‘7-day fever’, with severe symptoms, lays Kol low | Kolkata News

KOLKATA: The “seven-day fever” has made a comeback after a brief lull in the spate of viral infections, with severe symptoms often overlapping with dengue. While in its first spell, low-grade fever, cough and body ache were the dominant symptoms, this time, most have been struck by high fever, severe body ache, muscle pain, nausea and general weakness. The recovery period, too, has stretched to a week, making doctors refer to it as the ‘seven-day fever’ which, they said, strikes Kolkata every three-four years.
A section of patients have also been suffering from dual infection or a simultaneous attack of two viruses, leading to a severe disease. A few have also been struck by two different viruses one after another.
With dengue cases rising, doctors advise a blood test in case fever and weakness last more than three days.
This is the classical seven-day fever, according to RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences (RTIICS) intensivist Sauren Panja. “Viruses, like enterovirus, rotavirus, various strains of influenza and, in a few cases, retrovirus, are triggering this bout of fever accompanied by intense body ache that is turning out to be debilitating. Nausea and a loss of appetite are the other common symptoms. We have received a few cases of dual infection, mostly a simultaneous attack of an influenza strain and entero or rotavirus. This has turned the symptoms extremely severe. Those suffering sequential infections are taking almost two weeks to recover. With fever persisting for 12-14 days, patients are left weak and unable to move freely,” said Panja.
At Peerless Hospital, there has been a surge in viral infection cases both at its outdoor department and in the number of admissions. Till a fortnight ago, the hospital had been receiving patients with a range of viral infections, like influenza A and B, adenovirus, rhinovirus and swine flu. That was overtaken by dengue cases. “Now, we are seeing a resurgence of viral infections with symptoms that are more intense than the first spell. High-grade fever and severe muscle pain are dominant now. With dengue spreading fast as well, symptoms are similar and it has become difficult to distinguish one from another,” said Peerless Hospital CEO Sudipta Mitra.
He added that despite tests, most cases have remained undetected. “While a few have tested positive for swine flu, the rest have neither dengue nor another common virus. We don’t test everyone though, and dengue cases are rising sharply. So, the elderly and those with comorbidities are often preferring hospitalization,” said Mitra.
Treatment has to be strictly symptomatic, said Panja. “Paracetamol for fever remission and anti-viral drugs for some influenza strains are prescribed. Comorbid patients need to be screened and steps have to be taken according to severity of symptoms,” he added.
More severe and complicated cases of viral infection that led to prolonged hospitalization have been those followed by a secondary bacterial infection, said doctors. “Those with existing lung conditions, like COPD or asthma, have been more vulnerable to secondary infection. It has been leading to breathing distress and hospitalization. Several of my patients, mostly elderly, were severely affected by influenza, which tends to trigger lung disorders even without a secondary infection. But swine flu hasn’t been severe this time,” said internal medicine consultant Arindam Biswas.