Ranchi: Six H1N1 cases — four schoolchildren and two teachers — have been detected at the state-run Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) this month, even as hospitals across the city report a surge in patients with flu-like symptoms.Rims director Dr D K Sinha said several students of a residential school in Bariatu were tested after developing fever, sneezing, cough, sore throat and body aches. Four minors and two teachers tested positive for H1N1. All six, who had mild symptoms, were sent home. “As a preparedness measure, a dedicated ward of 18 beds has been set up at Rims to tackle H1N1 cases,” Sinha said.Govt and private hospitals are reporting an increase in patients across age groups with fever, cough, sneezing, sore throat and muscle pain.Dr Partha Kumar Choudhary, head of paediatrics at Rims, said the department was seeing at least 10-15 children with flu-like symptoms daily.“Whenever patients develop fever, cough, body pain and other similar symptoms, they are advised to consult doctors without relying on over-the-counter medicines. Rise in such cases is likely due to changing weather. Until they develop severe symptoms and are suffering from other health conditions such as heart and kidney diseases, diabetes, they do not require hospitalisation and can get cured at their homes,” he said.Bhagwan Mahavir Manipal Hospital is recording around 25-30 patients with flu-like symptoms every day.Dr Nidhi Jha, associate consultant, internal medicine, said, “We are currently seeing a clear increase in patients coming to the OPD with symptoms of common flu and other respiratory infections. Most of these cases are not serious, but the number indicates that the infection is spreading easily.”She said cough often persisted even after patients felt better and their fever had subsided. “People often tend to ignore such symptoms and resume their normal activities, which can contribute to further transmission. At present, we have not detected any H1N1 cases at our hospital,” Jha said.Ranchi Sadar Hospital deputy superintendent Dr Bimlesh Kumar said the facility was reporting at least 40 flu-like cases daily across age groups. “However, no H1N1 cases have been detected at the hospital so far. Patients with severe symptoms are referred to Rims for testing,” Kumar added.
