37 new swine flu cases in week, hospitals to prepare isolation wards

HYDERABAD: With 37 new cases of H1N1 (swine flu) being detected in first week of October — a huge jump from one or two cases being detected in a month — the state health department has issued a memo asking health facilities to look into ‘preparedness and effective management’ of swine flu cases. Hospital superintendents in district hospitals have been asked to keep isolation wards ready, inspect them, ensure proper upkeep and put in place satisfactory arrangements, in anticipation of further increase in swine flu cases.
On Monday alone, nine new cases of H1N1 were detected.“In view of the transmission season and increasing trend of H1N1 cases in the state, there is every need to maintain strict vigil and close monitoring to contain the spread of the disease in the state,” read the memo.

The memo also specified a treatment protocol and bracketed patients, with symptoms, into three categories for the purpose. In case of patients who report mild fever with cough or sore throat (category A), authorities have suggested that they be confined to their homes for 48 hours and put through monitoring. Testing has not been recommended for such patients.
For category B patients, who have cough or sore throat with high grade fever and are in high-risk category (such as pregnant women, children, elderly and patients with co-morbid conditions), the memo recommended the need for home isolation and treatment with oseltamivir (medicine for swine flu).
Patients who have all the symptoms of the first two categories along with breathlessness, chest pain, drowsiness, fall in blood pressure, sputum mixed with blood, bluish discolouration of nails are defined as ‘red flag’ signals. It also made H1N1 test mandatory for children with severe influenza like symptoms, and recommended immediate hospitalization and treatment with oseltamivir and broad spectrum antibiotics.
In case of patients with co-morbid conditions (diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, undergone any organ transplantation), immediate shifting to Gandhi Hospital and Niloufer Hospital for paediatric cases has been ordered. “The staff is adequately trained and other requisite equipment and treatment facilities have been kept ready at these hospitals,” said the internal advisory to all health facilities in the state.