With the rise in cases of fever, especially influenza-like illness, the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) and Preventive Medicine has issued guidelines for the prevention and control of the seasonal flu, and clinical management of patients. Only patients falling under Category C should be tested for influenza.
According to the guidelines, people suffering from flu-like symptoms should be classed under Categories A, B and C. Those having a mild fever and cough/sore throat with or without body ache, headache, diarrhoea and vomiting fall under Category A, and need not be tested for influenza. They should be isolated at home, and require symptomatic management, while treatment with Oseltamivir, the recommended drug, is not required.
Those having symptoms outlined for Category A, along with a high-grade fever or severe sore throat or high-risk conditions such as children aged under five, people above 65 years of age, pregnant women, persons with co-morbidities and persons with immuno-deficiency or on long-term steroid therapy, fall under Category B. They need not be tested, but can be treated with Oseltamivir as per schedule, along with broad-spectrum antibiotics. They should be isolated at home.
