Sri Lanka: Viral fever outbreak

[Ronan Kelly]

Pixie @ PFI

Virus flu raging among children Thursday, 23 June 2011 02:30
By Sandun A. Jayasekera



Doctors yesterday advised parents to take children suffering from the rapidly spreading viral fever to the nearest qualified medical practitioner and to treat them with only medicnes prescribed by the doctor.

Lady Ridgeway Children Hospital Director Dr. Ratnasiri Hewage told Daily Mirror the virus fever was spreading specially among children throughout the country and parents must seek hospital treatment if the child does not get better after three days of treatment by the medical practioner.

He said there had been a sharp increase in the number of patients with symptoms of fever and the wards at the LRH were filled to capacity with such patients.

Patients suffering from symptoms of headache and retro-orbital pain, nausea or vomiting, rash- diffuse or platelet count of less than150,000 mm and rising HCT of 5 to 10 per cent should be rushed to hospital.

Normal symptoms of this viral fever are the inability to tolerate oral fluid, no appetite for food or liquids, but feeling extremely thirsty, severe abdominal pain and vomiting, cold and clammy extremities, bleeding manifestations, unable to pass urine for more than six hours and behavioral change.

Even the ICUs are filled with children having fever while some of the children are being given ICU treatment at wards. Not only children but even if an adult is diagnosed with these symptoms, he or she must be rushed to the hospital without much delay.Dr. Hewage said the situation was becoming critical with the spread of dengue as parents could be confused whether it was dengue or the viral fever and therefore, it was important for the patients to be treated at home.

?It is safer to obtain medical advice in the first instance of a patient showing symptoms of fever,? he said and added that nearly 1,500 children were seeking treatment for fever at the LRH each day. Medical advice is vital when treating fever patients as certain drugs given without medical advice could be fatal.

National Hospital Director Dr. Hector Wirasingha, said the number of patients admitted to the hospital with fever had increased sharply.

http://print.dailymirror.lk/news/front-image/47898.html

[Shiloh]

Viral strain samples being tested

Source: http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/12098...al-strain.html

Viral strain samples being tested
Saturday, 25 June 2011 06:37

The Medical Research Institute (MRI) said yesterday it was testing blood samples to identify the viral flu strain which was rapidly spreading throughout the country.

The MRI, one of the chief medical institutions which determine the root cause and prevention of illnesses said so far only common influenza germs had been detected in samples checked so far.

?We have a surveillance network through which we are trying to detect what the virus is. So far we have not detected anything abnormal. However if a person is suspected of having the viral flu they should be treated at a hospital,? MRI Director Anil Samaranayake said and added that the viral flu could be connected to the seasonal influenza which appears annually.

Meanwhile the Colombo Municipality said it was possible that most of patients who had been diagnosed as suffering from dengue might have caught the fast spreading viral flu.

The Municipality?s Chief Medical Officer Pradeep Kariyawasam said there had been 1,477 patients suspected to be suffering from dengue in Colombo but on examining the diagnosis card of each patient it was found that only 769 patients had been confirmed cases of dengue.

He said this could mean that the majority might have contracted some kind of viral flu.

?The viral flu and dengue symptoms appear to be similar, and this makes it hard to distinguish one from the other. Nausea, vomiting, headache, a low platelet count, inability to urinate, poor eye sight are some of the common symptoms for both illnesses,? Dr. Kariyawasam said.

He said the 475 confirmed cases of dengue reported this month was an all time high.

Doctors had warned that children were more likely to contract the virus and parents were advised that in either cases of viral flu or dengue it was best to seek hospital treatment.

Meanwhile Colombo school officials said they were not aware of the viral flu that was reported to be spreading especially among children.

Ananda College Deputy Principal, Sampath Weragoda said although some students had been suspected of having dengue the school authorities were unaware of the mysterious viral flu.

?We haven?t detected any kind of threat from the virus will take precautions depending on the prevailing situation,? Mr. Weragoda said.

Royal College Principal Upali Gunasekara said he had not received reports or complaints about the virus. Museus College Principal S. Dandeniya said she was also not aware of a viral flu spreading among children. (Olindhi Jayasundere )

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sri Lanka: Viral fever outbreak

Hundreds affected by viral fever epidemic
By Nadia Fazlulhaq
Hospitals are full of patients, both young and old, suffering from viral fever with symptoms similar to dengue.

Officials said they were treating more than 150 fever patients a day in all major hospitals including the National Hospital and the Colombo South Teaching Hospital.

Infectious Diseases Hospital?s Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrema said the viral fever epidemic was not life-threatening but could weaken the patient.

?Most of the patients are suffering from vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea and loss of appetite. Therefore it?s important to give them nutritious fluids like king-coconut water, soups and cunjee but carbonated drinks should be avoided,? he said.

According to Dr. Wijewickrema, the viral fever normally lasts four to five days and patients suffer headaches, body aches and joint pains. ?It is difficult to differentiate viral fever from dengue. Even the blood tests show similar results. Only paracetamol is recommended when a patient is being treated at home but if fever, severe vomiting and diarrhoea or pain in the stomach persists it?s important to seek treatment from a qualified medical professional,? he said.

It is believed the fever is transmitted from humans to humans through airborne particles that contain the virus, touching contaminated surfaces and sharing food and utensils with an infected person and also through contaminated food and water.

Dr. Roshan Marambahewa, a medical officer attached to the paediatric ward of the IDH, said there had been an increase in the number of children being admitted to the hospital. ?Most children are suffering from fever and dehydration resulting in severe vomiting, loss of appetite and not passing urine,? he said.

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/110626/News/nws_05.html

[alert]

Re: Sri Lanka: Viral fever outbreak

That's an odd article. It seems as though there is co-circulation of flu (which is airborne) and dengue (which isn't) and the two illnesses may be being mistaken for each other.

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Sri Lanka: Viral fever outbreak

Viral fever outbreak in Sri Lanka .

Tuesday, 28 June 2011 12:29 ..?The viral fever and dengue symptoms appear to be similar, and it is difficult to differentiate one from the other. Nausea, vomiting, headache, a low platelet count, inability to urinate, poor eye sight are some of the common symptoms for both illnesses,? Colombo Municipality's Chief Medical Officer Dr.Pradeep Kariyawasam said to government website www.news.lk

It is believed the fever is transmitted from humans to humans through airborne particles that contain the virus, touching contaminated surfaces and sharing food and utensils with an infected person and also through contaminated food and water. The viral fever epidemic which lasts for four to five days is not life-threatening but could weaken the patient. Therefore it is vital to give them nutritious fluids like king-coconut water, soups and cunjee, avoiding carbonated drinks said the Infectious Diseases Hospital?s Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrema.

As the children are more likely to contract the virus, the parents are advised to seek hospital treatment in either cases of viral flu or dengue.

Sri Lanka?s Health authorities has warned the general public to keep their hands and face clean to avoid spreading of the prevailing viral fever and to wash raw fruits and vegetables with salt water and also to consume meals prepared at home.

Heallth Officials said more than 150 fever patients a day were being treated at in all major hospitals including the National Hospital and the Colombo South Teaching Hospital. It was further added that nearly 1,500 children were seeking treatment for fever at the LRH each day.

Health authorities also emphasize on the importance of treating fever patients on medical advice as certain drugs given without medical advice could be fatal.

http://www.news.lk/home/18335-viral-fever-outbreak-in-sri-lanka