Noida: Fever patients flocking to OPDs, most testing Covid positive, say doctors – ET HealthWorld

At the District Hospital in Noida, the number of such patients had gone up three times since the last week of December, doctors claimed. “Till last month, we had 100-150 patients coming with complaints like fever, sore throat and body ache. But now, we have been getting anything like 400-450 patients a day. Many of them are testing positive for Covid,” said Dr Vikas Kheria of the hospital.

As of now, only those with comorbidities and breathing problems are being advised hospitalisation, added Dr Kheria.

The situation is no different at Jaypee hospital. “In the latest phase of the pandemic, the virus is spreading much faster, but it is less virulent. This means it will not go deep down and affect the lungs, but will infect the upper body airways. This will lead to symptoms like fever, sore throat and body ache. Over 60-100 patients are coming to us with similar mild symptoms and a majority of them are testing positive. Hospitalisations are only for patients who have fever for over three days along with comoribities like diabetes and hypertension,” said Dr Shovana Veshnavi, consultant at the department of internal medicine at Jaypee hospital.

At Sharda Hospital, doctors are attending to 40-60 OPD patients every day. “We have started a flu clinic near the entrance to the hospital to ensure our staff and other patients are safe. In a majority of the cases, the symptoms are mild. Such patients are being advised medication and a week of home isolation,” said Dr Ajit Kumar of Sharda Hospital.

At the hospitals in Ghaziabad, a similar situation is being faced by doctors. “The number of patients complaining about fever has increased to around 100 a day. However, the fear among people is quite less this time compared to the previous wave. Along with proper counselling, most people coming to OPDs with mild symptoms are being prescribed medicines and home isolation,” said Dr Upasana Arora, the director of Yashoda Hospital in Ghaziabad.