JOIN USWith the winter not settling in yet, doctors said the turnout of patients at hospital OPDs was slim.
The numbers of infection cases are much lower than what is usually reported during this season in other years.
A spurt in viral infection cases was reported across hospitals with the seasonal change in the early part of November. But as the Capital continues to have no dip in temperature over the past few days, the OPD load has been rather easy so far in the past one week.
“This has been rather a healthy season. There was an initial spurt in cases of viral infection during the first seasonal change,” said Dr Alok Agarwal, Paediatrics Head, Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital.
“The number of patients have come down by 50 per cent since last month. Most of the patients at the OPD are complaining of respiratory tract infection” Dr Agarwal added.
“The common ailments during this season are winter diarrhoea and pneumonia. However, we have witnessed few such cases in this season so far,” Dr Agarwal said.
Experts said that the number of cases of other common ailments like cough and cold, asthma, viral fever and diarrhoea are also much lower than expected during this season.
“Another plus point is cases of dengue and malaria were also under control this year. We are receiving cases of respiratory ailments but these are much lower than the expected OPD attendance,” said Dr Vikas Tripathi, Head of the Department, Paediatrics, Madan Mohan Malaviya Hospital.
“There has been no spurt in asthma and cold and cough cases in the past few days. In fact, the numbers are coming down,” Dr Vikas Tripathi added.
However, doctors feel people should not stop taking precautions as that is one reason why infection cases rise suddenly.
“People should wear woollens and not expose themselves to the cold. Even though we are receiving few patients with infection at the OPD, it is important that people continue to be cautious,” said Dr Rajesh Kalra, Medical Superintendent, Hedgewar Arogya Sansthan Hospital.
“The elderly and the newborns are at a greater risk of contracting infection if there is a sudden dip in temperature,” he added.