Kolkata: Topsy-turvy weather may lead to spike in ailments, doctors warn – Times of India

Kolkata News

Kolkata: The weather see-saw that the city was witnessing might lead to spike in various viruses, including that of influenza, doctors warned.
As predicted by the Met office, it rained in pockets in the city on Tuesday evening. Brought in by a western disturbance, this weather system has not only caused the untimely showers but also blocked the path of chill-bearing Northwesterly winds. The Alipore weather office has warned of more rain in Kolkata and other parts of Bengal. “We can expect more thundershowers till Friday, after which the sky will start clearing up,” said Regional Meteorological Centre director (weather) G K Das. The maximum and minimum temperature on Tuesday remained above normal. While the day temperature is expected to slip below the normal by Wednesday, due to rain and cloud cover, nights will be warmer. “We expect the cloud to start disappearing from Kolkata skies by Saturday. The chill should return by next week,” said Das.
“The warmer temperature will facilitate virus replication, including those of influenza. While the infection itself could be not of major concern, the overlapping symptoms will confuse both doctors and patients,” said Partha Sarathi Karmakar, professor, medicine, College of Medicine & Sagore Dutta.
Doctors have flagged health concerns caused by the unseasonal rain and the temperature flip-flop. Health experts fear the rise in number of mosquito-borne diseases and respiratory and GI infections, apart from influenza-like illness. “This abrupt weather change could trigger chest and respiratory infection, especially in the elderly. People might catch cold and cough, which could be overlapping with those with Covid-19 symptoms,” said internal medicine specialist Rahul Jain of Belle Vue Clinic.
Doctors said while the temperature fluctuation could make one susceptible to respiratory infections, the untimely rain could again aggravate mosquito-borne diseases. “This sudden change in weather can also aggravate the condition in people who are suffering from asthma and related diseases. The temperature change can bring in more viral infections,” said pulmonologist Sushmita Roy Chowdhury of Fortis Hospital.
According to Dibyendu Raychaudhri, associate professor of paediatrics, children can also be susceptible to viral and influenza,apart from waterborne and mosquito-borne aliments. “This weather change could lead to kids falling sick due to infections caused by rhino, adenovirus and syncytial virus, in addition to diarrhoea and dengue,” said Raychaudhuri of Bankura Sammilani Medical College.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/topsy-turvy-weather-may-lead-to-spike-in-ailments-docs-warn/articleshow/88842917.cms