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Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...irus-stalks-Bangalore/articleshow/4755682.cms
Mystery virus stalks Bangalore
9 Jul 2009, 0501 hrs IST, Dipannita Das, TNN
BANGALORE: Is there a new and virulent viral strain doing the rounds in Bangalore? Doctors have been noticing rather unusual symptoms in patients suffering from the common viral fever.
A viral fever typically subsides in 3-4 days. But doctors are baffled by the fact that the fever continues for nearly a week. Dr H Paramesh, paediatric pulmonologist, Lakeside Medical Centre and Hospital, says: "I get many patients with unusual symptoms. I suspect it could be coxsakie virus which enters through the mouth. The source is water and food contamination."
According to D Raghunath, principal executive, Sir Dorabji Tata Centre for Research in Tropical Diseases, IISc, the virus keeps mutating. "There could be a possibility of change in virus or different type of disease coming in as the response and sensitivity are different in patients. Not much investigation has been done to prove it."
Sadly, there's not a single institute which does a detailed study on virus culture for common influenza and respiratory virus in the city. "Blood samples and nasal swabs during early infection should be tested to detect the antibody. A virus culture is needed to know the virus for correct diagnosis to correlate with the clinical finding."
Dr V Ravi, head, neurovirology department, Nimhans, says the virus culture helps in diagnosis of patients suffering from viral fever (from 2-3 days of the symptoms). There are over two dozen viruses which affect respiratory system causing cold, cough and pneumonia. "There is a need for documentation whether there has been an increase in viral fever cases over the years and look into the clinical symptoms," he added.
The neurovirology department at Nimhans does cultures for the virus that affects brain (dengue, chikungunya, rabies, etc). No tests are done for common influenza or respiratory virus. "As there has been no detailed study in this area, treatment is done on clinical judgement. Patients are treated symptomatically. No culture tests are done as its expensive and to get the reports it takes 2-3 weeks. By then, the patient recovers," Dr Paramesh said.
Mystery virus stalks Bangalore
9 Jul 2009, 0501 hrs IST, Dipannita Das, TNN
BANGALORE: Is there a new and virulent viral strain doing the rounds in Bangalore? Doctors have been noticing rather unusual symptoms in patients suffering from the common viral fever.
A viral fever typically subsides in 3-4 days. But doctors are baffled by the fact that the fever continues for nearly a week. Dr H Paramesh, paediatric pulmonologist, Lakeside Medical Centre and Hospital, says: "I get many patients with unusual symptoms. I suspect it could be coxsakie virus which enters through the mouth. The source is water and food contamination."
According to D Raghunath, principal executive, Sir Dorabji Tata Centre for Research in Tropical Diseases, IISc, the virus keeps mutating. "There could be a possibility of change in virus or different type of disease coming in as the response and sensitivity are different in patients. Not much investigation has been done to prove it."
Sadly, there's not a single institute which does a detailed study on virus culture for common influenza and respiratory virus in the city. "Blood samples and nasal swabs during early infection should be tested to detect the antibody. A virus culture is needed to know the virus for correct diagnosis to correlate with the clinical finding."
Dr V Ravi, head, neurovirology department, Nimhans, says the virus culture helps in diagnosis of patients suffering from viral fever (from 2-3 days of the symptoms). There are over two dozen viruses which affect respiratory system causing cold, cough and pneumonia. "There is a need for documentation whether there has been an increase in viral fever cases over the years and look into the clinical symptoms," he added.
The neurovirology department at Nimhans does cultures for the virus that affects brain (dengue, chikungunya, rabies, etc). No tests are done for common influenza or respiratory virus. "As there has been no detailed study in this area, treatment is done on clinical judgement. Patients are treated symptomatically. No culture tests are done as its expensive and to get the reports it takes 2-3 weeks. By then, the patient recovers," Dr Paramesh said.