Bengaluru registers surge in Adenovirus cases, health experts say no reason to worry

Bengaluru: Amidst a surge in Adenovirus cases from Bengaluru, which causes mild cold or flu-like illnesses and spreads through aerosol (droplets) and contact, the health and medical experts in the city have assured that it is not a cause for concern. 

The health experts have assured that it is not a cause for concern as the Adenovirus infections are self-limiting. But children aged below 2 are the most vulnerable groups. 

Read:With 11 children succumbing to Adenovirus in West Bengal, the State is now on a high Alert

But lately, there has been a rise in cases of viral fever and hospitalizations among children over the past two to three weeks, with the medical professionals pointing out that the symptoms are lasting longer than usual this time. The virus can cause respiratory infections, gastroenteritis and conjunctivitis. 

Dr Rajath Athreya, senior consultant and HOD, paediatrics and neonatology, Sakra World Hospital, Bengaluru, said, "Over three weeks, we have seen a huge uptick in adenovirus cases. In the past two months, we have had 21 confirmed positive cases. In the OPD and ER, we get 30-odd children daily who may be having such infections. Admitted kids with flu or adenovirus symptoms are being tested through throat swabs. We are admitting 3-4 such kids every day." 

Karnataka health minister Dr K Sudhakar while holding a press conference at the Vidhana Soudha on Monday, March 6 had observed that around 60 cases of Adenovirus causing acute respiratory infections (ARI) were reported from Karnataka. He had observed, "From January to March, a total of 20 cases of H1N1 variant have been found in the state. There is a rise in Adenovirus cases. But, there is no need to panic. All precautions have been taken. There is no shortage of medicines. As temperature soars in summer, one should take precaution." 

According to the National Institute of Virology, only 13 adenovirus cases have been reported from the city this year. Health officials have pointed out that private hospitals need to improve their reporting of adenovirus cases. 

Speaking to Deccan Herrald, Dr G V Basavaraj, national president of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics said, "Across India, pediatricians say the course of adenovirus is unusual now — symptoms that usually resolve in two to three days are now lasting seven to 10 days with high-grade fever. This is due to the immunity gap in the last few years, as children were not exposed to common viruses." 

Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) member Dr Rajath Athreya, who is also HOD Pediatrics at Sakra World Hospital said, "We have been seeing influenza cases from August. But in the last two weeks, 10-20 of the cases are probably adenovirus infections." 

According to Dr Shivaprakash Sosale, an assistant professor at Vani Vilas Hospital, the ICU and ventilators at their hospitals is getting filled by children whose viral fevers have advanced to pneumonia or sepsis. Stating that these infections can rise from either the virus itself or secondary bacterial infections, Dr Sosale said, "We have around four children on ventilators now, 30 to 35 in the ICU, and also children in the wards with minimal oxygen support. Children below 10, including newborns, are affected." 

Explaining the infection to TOI, Dr Uma Madhavachetty, consultant family physician and diabetologist, Belenus Champion Hospital, Sarjapur pointed out that the infection causes mild to severe infection, with most commonly affecting the respiratory system. Patients usually get a fever, runny nose, sore throat and cough, body aches, and sometimes even vomiting/diarrhoea. 

Emphasizing that there is no need to worry, Dr Pruthu Narendra Dhekane, consultant, infectious diseases, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road said, "This is usually a self-limited disease and with symptomatic treatment, people, especially children, get well within a few days." 

However, Dr Athreya said, "The worry is as the infection becomes widespread, rare and serious presentations show up." The city reportedly have few testing facilities for the virus. 

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