Srinagar, 6 April: Doctors Association Kashmir today in a communiqué said that flu has once again griped the Valley and large number of children are suffering from Flu like Illness (FLI) . DAK appealed people not to panic and pay heed to any rumours as this is only a seasonal flu and not swine flu.
The seasonal flu, is a viral infection of the respiratory tract caused by an influenza B virus. Symptoms can include fever, headache, runny nose, sore throat, or cough and chest congestion. Dr Suhail Naik president DAK and a senior pediatrician said that every year there is a period of time where there are outbreaks of the flu, what we call as seasonal flu. Flu season generally occurs during the fall, winter and early spring. Dr Naik added current peak in seasonal flu is due to opening of schools after winter break and this viral infection easily spreads from child to child . This seasonal flu is due to influenza B and is not swine flu or life threatening.
People are advised to give rest, lot of fluids, soups to kids and need based paracetamol.
Furthermore there are some patients who are at higher risk of developing complications due the flu. They are young children less than one year, pregnant women, older adults age more than 65, and people with long-term illnesses like diabetes , chronic kidney failure, cancers or with impaired immune systems that make it hard to fight infection. In such cases early use antiviral drug like Osteltamavir should be judiciously considered.
Most people can treat flu symptoms at home. Home treatment includes resting, drinking plenty of water, soups and need based paracetamol.
