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Time of India
21 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Covid symptoms in this round feel like Omicron during pandemic, say doctors
Kolkata: Around 30% of Covid patients in some Kolkata hospitals are showing gastrointestinal symptoms, which were prevalent during the spread of the Omicron variant in early 2022. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Many elderly patients admitted during the current cycle suffered a quick worsening of comorbidities, which may have been triggered by the virus, say doctors. There has also been a spurt in the number of relatively younger patients without any co-ailment. Even though severe cases remain low, several private hospitals have seen a spurt in admissions, leading to an extension of their isolation wards. While initial symptoms of the current surge were restricted to fever and cough, a sizeable section of patients has now started suffering from loose motion and mild diarrhoea — a prominent symptom of the third Covid wave that struck three-and-a-half years ago. "While these symptoms, too, remain mild, it now indicates the presence of the virus if detected in conjunction with fever and cough. Many had gastrointestinal symptoms during the Omicron wave, and it could be possible that since the current strain Jn.1 is believed to be an Omicron variant, symptoms are getting repeated," said CMRI Hospital pulmonology director Raja Dhar. The hospital has seven Covid patients admitted. While most are still elderly with comorbidities, a significant number suffered worsening of their ailments quickly, added Dhar. Charnock Hospital has admitted four Covid patients over the last three days. "They had a persistent fever and nasal symptoms that made them get tested. Their comorbidities are mild, and they are stable. There has been a major spurt in mild positive cases, which don't require admission. Patients now cut across all age groups and are not necessarily just the elderly with comorbidities," said Charnock Hospital pulmonologist Soumya Sengupta. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Manipal Hospital, Mukundapur now has two Covid patients. "While we received elderly patients till a few days ago, the virus is now affecting all age groups. A vast majority have mild symptoms that don't require admission, which has kept it manageable for us so far," said Manipal infectious diseases physician Sayan Chakrabarty. Peerless Hospital has four Covid patients admitted, including a seven-month-old girl and her mother. It also has a 52-year-old man and a 72-year-old elderly patient, both of whom are stable. With two Covid patients currently admitted, BP Poddar Hospital has intensified safety measures. "Both presented with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and mild-grade fever. One is a 72-year-old female and the other a 65-year-old male," said Supriyo Chakraborty, group advisor of BP Poddar.
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Why Covid diagnosis is difficult these days: Here's what doctors say as cases near 5,000
Covid-19 cases are rising once again in India, but this time, the symptoms are milder, something doctors say could be misleading and risky. According to a report by TOI, most patients in this new surge are showing only mild symptoms like a low-grade fever and light cough. Because these signs seem flu-like, many people are ignoring them and taking over-the-counter medicines instead of getting tested. Doctors, however, are warning against this. 'The mild symptoms are misleading. Many people delayed visiting a doctor until their fever wouldn't go away,' said Dr Raja Dhar, Director of Pulmonology at CMRI , as quoted by TOI. 'If you test positive, you must isolate, especially to protect elderly family members with other health issues. If symptoms last beyond four to five days, especially in older people, hospitalisation should be considered.' CMRI currently has seven Covid patients admitted. Live Events Dr Sayan Chakrabarty from Manipal Hospitals agreed, adding that many patients with persistent fever were later found to be Covid positive. 'Most of the cases are mild so far, and five of our Covid patients have already been discharged,' he said. Even among senior citizens, the symptoms are gentler compared to earlier waves. Pulmonologist Dr Soumya Sengupta from Charnock Hospital told TOI that Covid pneumonia has been rare this time. 'Most elderly patients who tested positive are in hospital for other health issues, and their Covid symptoms are quite mild,' he said. Experts believe that the JN.1 variant of Omicron is currently circulating. Dr Dhar explained that while this strain spreads quickly, it seems to be less dangerous. 'Still, if you test positive, it's best to isolate for five days and take medicines to ease the symptoms. Even mild Covid can trigger complications in people with existing heart or lung conditions,' he said. Doctors expect this wave to last only a few more weeks, but only if people stay alert and don't brush off the signs. Inputs from TOI
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Overlapping symptoms make Cov diagnosis difficult without tests
Kolkata: The overriding symptoms of Covid during the current surge were a low-grade, persistent fever, along with a mild cough, which could be deceptive, warned doctors. While it made a vast majority ignore the symptoms and take over-the-counter medicines, for some, the fever refused to subside. It was the continuing fever that led many to consult physicians. Most of those testing Covid positive on admission to hospitals for other ailments were also screened at hospitals due to their fever. Covid cases have been rising in Bengal over the past week. The state logged 319 cases in the past seven days, taking the number of active cases to 331 on Monday. Unlike the first three waves, when Covid came with loss of smell and taste, accompanied by high fever, severe cough and pneumonia, the symptoms of the current spike were muted and flu-like, said doctors. With a runny nose and a sore throat, symptoms in most were milder than that during the pandemic, said CMRI pulmonology director Raja Dhar. "Mild symptoms led many to ignore it, which could be risky at a time, when cases are proliferating. One should get tested, and if the result turns positive, the patient should isolate, especially if there are elders in the family. Screening should be stricter for elderly people with comorbidities, and if the fever and cough persist beyond four to five days, hospitalization is advised as symptoms could worsen quickly," said Dhar. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Grammarly Install Now Undo CMRI has seven Covid patients admitted. Manipal Hospitals infectious diseases physician Sayan Chakrabarty agreed. "The symptoms are flu-like, but for some, the fever persists. Those patients are getting tested, and many tested positive. While severe cases have been rare so far, rising numbers could lead to a spurt," he added. Five Covid patients, admitted to Manipal's different units, have been discharged. Covid pneumonia has been rare this time, said Charnock Hospital pulmonologist Soumya Sengupta. "Most patients have a cough and low fever. Even the elders in hospital who tested positive have muted Covid symptoms. Most are being treated for their comorbidities. During the pandemic, a vast majority of senior citizens had severe Covid symptoms, including pneumonia," said Sengupta. Dhar pointed out that the Jn.1 variant of the Omicron, now believed to be in circulation, was highly transmissible though less virulent. "But it is safe to isolate yourself for five days on testing positive and take symptomatic drugs. Symptoms are likely to remain mild till this wave blows over in about a fortnight. But even mild Covid may aggravate comorbidities, especially those related to lungs," he said.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Symptoms mild but Cov admissions rise, hosps expand isolation facilities
1 2 Kolkata: The spike in Covid patients in Kolkata and the rest of Bengal makes the elderly with comorbidities and children, especially those who suffered an adenovirus infection or pneumonia over the past three years, vulnerable to the existing Covid strains, say pulmonologists. Patients, suffering from associated respiratory illnesses, such as recurring bouts of asthma, frequent bronchitis, COPD or respiratory distress, were at a greater risk of getting Covid, they warned. Several private hospitals have started expanding their Covid units. While the infection might be mild for most, if numbers kept rising at the current rate, a significant section could get a severe disease, said CMRI Hospital pulmonology director Raja Dhar. "As the elderly and children are more vulnerable, the number of affected will swell, leading to a rise in severe cases. So, we need to isolate positives to curb transmission and ramp up testing, prevention measures and isolation facilities. Else, we will have an explosion of patients as a small number of severe cases could also be huge in our country," Dhar said. Five Covid patients are now admitted to CMRI, which has identified 14 beds, which could be scaled up to 32, if need be. Dhar added the current strain, believed to be Jn.1, a variant of Omicron, was highly transmissible though less virulent. Peerless Hospital has identified a ward with a dialysis facility and earmarked an eight-bed ITU for severe cases. The hospital now has two patients admitted, both stable. "We can accommodate five to 10 stable Covid patients immediately and at least eight severe patients at an ITU that can be converted," said Peerless CEO Sudipta Mitra. Two Covid patients are now admitted to RN Tagore Hospital, both stable. "If the numbers rise exponentially, severe cases will also go up. In terms of percentage, the number could be small, but in absolute numbers, we may have more severe cases over the next fortnight," said RN Tagore intensivist Sauren Panja. Covid patients at Manipal Hospitals were released by Sunday. "Our Dhakuria, Mukundapur and Salt Lake Broadway units each has an isolation unit. We are contemplating an isolation area to segregate suspected cases," said Manipal infectious diseases physician Sayan Chakrabarty. He added while symptoms remained muted, faster transmission might change the scene. "Those with lung ailments have the risk of aggravation if they get Covid. " At Charnock Hospital, a 'wider clinical team' has been set up. "Use of hand sanitisers and masks at the hospital has been reinstated. The hospital is setting up isolation wards and ICU beds for confirmed or suspected Covid cases. Patients with symptoms are being screened," said a Charnock spokesperson. Woodlands Multispecialty Hospital, which has identified a five-bed isolation unit, has one Covid patient admitted. "If numbers rise, we will use it. We have stepped up preventive measures and ramped up tests," said CEO Rupak Barua.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
‘Transmissibility high, current Cov strain may be more dangerous for elderly, kids'
Kolkata: Small Covid surges may continue to recur for some more years, and even though they may not cause virulent infections, transmissibility could be high, putting the elderly and children at risk, said doctors and experts in Kolkata. Those with comorbidities were particularly vulnerable now since the seemingly innocuous cough-and-cold that the prevailing strain has been triggering may transform into fatal pneumonia for those above 65, they warned. Most Covid positives in Kolkata are elderly with comorbidities, and children, with several suffering from respiratory diseases. Those with diabetes, COPD, cardiac diseases, or chronic kidney ailments were at risk, said CMRI Hospital pulmonology director Raja Dhar. "Typically, these patients are above 65 and have lower immunity. So, if a member of the family has Covid, which may not trigger symptoms more severe than a cough and a runny nose, the elders need to be isolated. For those with comorbidities, even this mild infection could be fatal," he said. Charnock Hospital is assessing the situation to stay "prepared for any potential escalation", though none has yet tested positive at the hospital. "So far, it seems the strain is a variant of Omicron that triggers mild symptoms like flu. We haven't yet seen the typical Covid pneumonia, though several have had respiratory symptoms. Those with lower immunity, and kids must be careful," said Charnock pulmonologist Soumya Sengupta. The hospital has revived the use of hand sanitisers and masks on its premises and is in the process of setting up isolation wards and ICU beds. The emergency department has started screening patients. BP Poddar Hospital has expanded its patients' waiting area to minimise crowding, and is planning to reinstate its isolation ward. "The currently circulating variant poses a significant risk to those with comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, chronic lung or kidney disease, or weakened immunity," said Rajdip Sen, consultant physician at BP Poddar Hospital. Elderly people with multiple comorbidities are immunosuppressed and should use masks, continue daily medications, and maintain hand hygiene, said ILS Hospital pulmonologist Mrinmoy Mitra. "If those with chronic lung diseases develop fever, cough, breathlessness, wheezing, or chest tightness, they should consult a pulmonologist," he said. It is time to revisit vaccines and check if the ones used during Covid remain effective, said Dhar, adding: "There is no reason to panic but keep your guards up."
