Hyderabad: A spurt in upper respiratory tract infections among children, both in government and private tertiary care centres, is being seen across the city. The out-patient (OP) footfall at the state-run Niloufer Hospital touched 200 per day (just for pneumonia and influenza cases), while admissions have touched 70 per day. Meanwhile, an infant, who was admitted to the hospital for a severe heart disease and blood infections, has tested positive for Covid-19 too.
The hospital has two other Covid-positive patients. One of the patients (14-month-old), who had tested positive last week, has subsequently tested negative and is out of intensive care. The other, a six-month-old, is currently on oxygen support, but is stable.
While overall OP and fever cases is slightly lower than previous months, experts say that the weather condition being conductive for the spread of influenza-like viruses and pneumonia and an increase is likely over the next few weeks. This is also typically the season for pneumonia cases.
In the wake of increase in Covid cases, most hospitals have begun running compulsory Covid tests on patients admitted with pneumonia-like symptoms, including fever, cold, cough and breathing difficulty. “Increasing the surveillance, we have started doing an RT-PCR test for all pneumonia patients. So far, three children tested positive and majority of the samples are negative for Covid. All three sample have been sent to CDFD for genome sequencing,” hospital superintendent Dr T Usha Rani said.
The hospital has also set up an isolation ward recently after the first Covid-positive case in recent times was recorded three days ago. Meanwhile, another patient in a private hospital, who tested positive and the sample was sent for genome sequencing, is currently on oxygen support. “We are awaiting the genome sequencing results, but for now we are screening all in-patients for Covid,” said the treating doctor.
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The hospital has two other Covid-positive patients. One of the patients (14-month-old), who had tested positive last week, has subsequently tested negative and is out of intensive care. The other, a six-month-old, is currently on oxygen support, but is stable.
While overall OP and fever cases is slightly lower than previous months, experts say that the weather condition being conductive for the spread of influenza-like viruses and pneumonia and an increase is likely over the next few weeks. This is also typically the season for pneumonia cases.
In the wake of increase in Covid cases, most hospitals have begun running compulsory Covid tests on patients admitted with pneumonia-like symptoms, including fever, cold, cough and breathing difficulty. “Increasing the surveillance, we have started doing an RT-PCR test for all pneumonia patients. So far, three children tested positive and majority of the samples are negative for Covid. All three sample have been sent to CDFD for genome sequencing,” hospital superintendent Dr T Usha Rani said.
The hospital has also set up an isolation ward recently after the first Covid-positive case in recent times was recorded three days ago. Meanwhile, another patient in a private hospital, who tested positive and the sample was sent for genome sequencing, is currently on oxygen support. “We are awaiting the genome sequencing results, but for now we are screening all in-patients for Covid,” said the treating doctor.
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Telangana health department sends four Covid positive samples, suspecting JN.1 variant, to National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune. Sudden upturn in Covid-19 cases in the state. Samples from urban primary health centre in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits and from a patient admitted in Fever hospital. Samples initially sent to Gandhi Medical College but forwarded to NIV Pune due to unavailability of testing consumables.
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As Covid cases rise in multiple states, concerns grow about the new variant JN.1 in Kerala. Dr Sameer Bhati, a public health expert, explains the changing dynamics of the virus. Despite fewer tests in Delhi, genome sequencing is done to identify new variants. Covid testing includes home testing, rapid antigen tests, and RTPCR tests. Positive cases are directed for genome sequencing. Dr Bhati anticipates a surge in Covid cases in Delhi and NCR. He emphasizes the importance of providing information to ICMR for genome sequencing.
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Delhi health department orders sending adequate Covid samples for RT-PCR test and conducting genome sequencing. India records 594 fresh Covid-19 infections, taking active cases to 2,669. Delhi’s health minister reviews health facilities’ preparedness for ILI/SARI. Kerala and Karnataka conduct 537 and 487 RT-PCR tests with positivity rates of 20.75% and 2.41% respectively. Noida resident tests positive for Covid, first case in Gautam Buddh Nagar after several months.