LIFE: FLU

The media is busy cashing in on the panic driven by the Swine Flu, so much so that the masks have become fashion accessories. The entire focus has been distorted just by picking at the government for their lack of measures or counting the number of deaths due to the pandemic. The other two strains of Flu viz; Dengue and Chickungunya are also prevalent and can be life threatening if neglected.

Dengue: Recent cases of dengue have shown that the virus starts to destroy blood platelets. For a normal person the blood platelet count is in a few lakhs. In the infected person, this count is observed to fall to an alarming low level. Result the person is losing conscious progressively. The counter measure is to infuse blood platelets from donors. Sounds easy but again not all donors are qualified. The donor platelet count should be above two lakhs. Once the donor platelets are extracted, there is a four hour window within which the platelet transfer has to take place. Depending on the patient, the body should start regenerating platelets after two or three infusions. If this process is successful, body responds to medication and the infection starts to subside.

Chickungunya: In this case, one starts with very high temperature and shivering and inflammation of the body. Though the infection is contained by medication, the inflammation lasts for anything between three to six months depending on the amount of rest taken. If the patient has a history of joint pains then, they find it to be aggravated during this phase.

Precautions: In case you detect signs of flu do not self-medicate. Visit your doctor and take prescribed medication and also do all tests if suggested, to be self assured.
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PS:These comments are from my observations of recent cases and interactions with doctors thereafter. If you are in doubt, please validate this with your Doctor. This post should be treated as pure information for precaution.