Adenovirus grips the city

Adenovirus (ADV) has gone uncontrollable due to the climate change and environmental pollution in Karachi.

Patients with ADV are visiting the hospital with symptoms of headache, chills, cough, cold, and fever, while the cases of diarrhoea have also increased.

According to the healthcare officials, more than a thousand patients are visiting the government hospital daily with these symptoms. Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital reported 782 cases of ADV and acute respiratory tract infection on Saturday, while 1,275 cases were reported on Monday.

Assistant Medical Superintendent Civil Hospital Dr Harish Kumar said that the cases of cold, cough, and fever have increased in the last 15 to 20 days. When patients come to the hospital with complaints of fever and sore throat they give them antipyretics, antibiotics, and cough medicines from the hospital. The weather is cold in the night and evening. The number of these cases is increasing due to hot afternoon, climate change, and environmental pollution.

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Patients mostly complain about headache, runny nose, fever and chills, but their blood pressure is normal. This fever lasts for about a week. Special care should be taken for children and elderly people. He suggested to the citizens that they should use boiled water and wear masks and avoid junk food.

Civil Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr. Abdul Latif Shaikh said that 90 per cent of reported cases are viral infections, while some are caused by bacteria.

In this regard, Dr. Imran, the emergency in charge of the Civil Hospital, said that the cases of diarrhoea have also increased. In the past, 4-6 cases of diarrhoea were reported in Civil Hospital, but now 10 to 12 cases of diarrhoea are being reported daily.

Diarrhoea is increasing in patients due to contaminated water, and their kidneys are also affected. When patients are asked that they use boiled water, their answer is no.

Dr. Faisal Javed, General Physician of Jinah Hospital Karachi, said that this is not a new virus.

There is also a vaccine for it. It is possible to prevent it through influenza and corona vaccines. Patients with diabetes and asthma should be more careful because it is a viral infection and capable of being transmitted from one person to another. There is no need to panic or fear. Citizens should maintain social distance from and wear face masks.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th 2024.