Fever, respiratory infections common among flood-hit people, says AIIMS

Fever, upper respiratory tract infections and skin diseases were among the most common ailments observed by doctors from AIIMS, New Delhi, during their four-day flood relief mission in Punjab.

The doctors reached out to over 3,100 patients in Ajnala, Sidhe Wala, Ramdass, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur. The team was led by Prof M Srinivas, Director of AIIMS, New Delhi, and Dr Nirupam Madaan, Medical Superintendent. “Fever, upper respiratory tract and skin infections are most common… and then some cough and sputum production is also there,” said Dr Amrinder Singh, Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiovascular Radiology & Endovascular Intervention, AIIMS.

He added that patients with acute gastroenteritis, especially children suffering from dehydration, were also frequently treated during the outreach. The medical team provided medicines such as antifungals, antibiotics, oral rehydration solutions and pain relievers, said Dr Singh.

Beyond these immediate health problems, the team also discovered a significant number of patients with undiagnosed diabetes. “There are multiple patients having diabetes and they don’t know about it,” he said. Doctors also screened people for high blood pressure, he said.

The relief camps were set up in areas where medical help had not reached earlier, said Dr Singh. The teams visited homes directly in some places, to facilitate vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children. Dr Singh emphasised that preventive measures, like boiling water before drinking, were being advised to avoid further complications. To ensure continued care, AIIMS plans to launch a telemedicine helpline for flood-affected patients in Punjab and nearby states, added Dr Singh.