Cough, cold, fever spell sweeps city, doctors warn elderly and vulnerable to stay cautious

By Admin

16 Jun, 2025

As the city grapples with a sharp spike in seasonal illnesses, a wave of cough, cold, and fever cases is sweeping through neighbourhoods, leaving health officials concerned  especially for the elderly and individuals with pre-existing medical conditions.

Across Kolkata and its surrounding areas, many residents are reporting fever accompanied by body aches, throat irritation, and chest or nasal congestion. According to Dr. Soumitra Ghosh, head of general medicine at Medical College Kolkata, approximately 12 to 13 percent of patients visiting the hospital’s general medicine outpatient department (OPD) are presenting such symptoms.

“Nearly 12 or 13 in every 100 people visiting our OPD are coming with symptoms of fever, body ache, headache, nasal congestion and throat irritation. This is quite a high percentage,” Dr. Ghosh stated.

Mild Cases, But Risks for the Vulnerable

Doctors say most of the illnesses are upper respiratory tract infections and generally resolve within a week without serious complications. However, the warning is clear: elderly individuals and those suffering from comorbidities such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) must exercise extra caution.

“There’s a greater possibility of the infection spreading to the lower respiratory tract, including the lungs, in people with asthma and COPD,” said Dr. Ghosh.

What’s Causing the Surge?

Medical experts suspect a mix of respiratory viruses as the root cause behind this outbreak. While viral panel tests that determine the exact virus are rarely prescribed due to their high cost, the few conducted so far have pointed to infections caused by influenza, parainfluenza, metapneumovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Dr. Chandramouli Bhattacharya, an infectious diseases specialist at Peerless Hospital, links this seasonal uptick to the pre-monsoon and monsoon periods  historically associated with increased flu activity. “In places south of 30° N latitude, which includes most of India, influenza cases rise sharply from May to November,” he explained, citing World Health Organisation (WHO) data.

The Need for Preventive Measures

Given the seasonal nature of these infections, healthcare professionals are urging people  especially high-risk individuals  to take preventive steps. Dr. Amitabha Saha, head of critical care at Desun Hospital, emphasized the importance of getting a flu vaccine. “It reduces both the severity of the disease and the likelihood of getting infected,” he said.

Real-Life Impact

Residents across the city are already feeling the brunt of this health wave. A man from Hindustan Park, returning from Delhi, reported fever, body ache, and severe weakness. Meanwhile, an elderly couple in Dum Dum endured a week of illness, with symptoms spreading from one to the other.

“I had fever for three days along with nausea and fatigue. Just a day after I recovered, my husband came down with fever, weakness, and headache,” said the woman.

Stay Protected:

• Stay hydrated and rest adequately
  
  

• Use masks in crowded areas
  
  

• Get vaccinated against seasonal flu
  
  

• Seek medical advice if symptoms worsen
  
  

• Elderly and those with chronic illnesses should avoid unnecessary exposure
  
  

As the city braces for the monsoon, medical professionals advise everyone to stay alert and not take flu-like symptoms lightly. Caution now could prevent complications later.