Daijiworld Media Network - Nagpur

Nagpur, Oct 7: A sharp rise in flu-like and respiratory illnesses among children has been reported in Nagpur, with the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) recording around 7,600 paediatric outpatient visits for such illnesses over the past three months.

The figure is more than three times the number recorded during the corresponding period last year, when around 2,500 children visited the paediatric OPD with similar complaints.

Dr Ashish Lothe, Professor of Paediatrics at GMCH, said respiratory infections have increased significantly this year, with several viruses being detected among children.

Doctors have reported infections caused by swine flu (H1N1), rhinovirus, enterovirus and adenovirus, indicating that the increase is not linked to a single virus. Rhinoviruses are among the common causes of cold-like illnesses and can become more active during seasonal transitions.

Doctors said seasonal changes, fluctuations in temperature and humidity, increased circulation of respiratory viruses and close contact among children in schools and other crowded places can contribute to the spread of infections.

Influenza activity in India also follows seasonal patterns, with circulation often increasing around and after the monsoon period. The presence of multiple viruses can result in children developing respiratory symptoms repeatedly even after recovering from an earlier infection.

Common symptoms include fever, cough, cold, sore throat, body ache and breathing difficulty. Doctors have advised parents not to ignore persistent fever, worsening cough, fast or difficult breathing or unusual weakness in children.

The sharp increase in paediatric cases has highlighted the changing pattern of respiratory illnesses among children and the growing burden on paediatric healthcare services in Nagpur.