The first free fever clinic in the district was inaugurated by District Panchayat president Kanathil Jameela at Malabar Medical College at Atholi on Saturday.
The fever clinic was opened as per the directions of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Kozhikode branch, as a measure to check the spread of contagious diseases in the district.
As per the statistics available with the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), Dengue fever, caused by Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes is on the rise in Kozhikode Corporation limits in the months of May and June. H1N1 otherwise known as swine flu is not found much while hepatitis A and malaria have been reported from some places.
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More than 2,000 people visit the health centres and hospitals in the district every day either with fever or the fear of it. Hence the fever clinics were mooted at a recent meeting attended by the District Collector, District Medical Officer, Government Medical Practitioners and the heads of local bodies.
The free fever clinics will be held at all the private hospitals and medical colleges in the district at either morning or evening for two hours. Besides Malabar Medical College, the KMCT Medical College at Mukkam too started the free fever clinic on Saturday.
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IMA informed in a press release that aged people, pregnant women and patients with breathing trouble, cardiac ailments and other lung disorders should be very cautious against the contagious diseases. Medicines such as Ibuprofen, Aspirin and Mefenamic have to be completely avoided while paracetamol, antibiotics and anti-viral medicines shall be taken, but only with proper directions from a registered medical practitioner. If H1N1 is confirmed, anti-viral treatment should begin within 48 hours. It will be under control in about a week. If patients who once suffered from H1N1 feel breathing problems, dizziness or vomiting later on, they should seek expert advice soon.
Platelet transfusion
For those suffering from Dengue fever, low platelet count is dangerous. However, there is no need for platelet transfusion just because the platelet count came low due to Dengue. The fever may also be a symptom of Typhoid, Malaria Hepatitis A or Scrub Typhus. A course of antibiotic that does not cost more than Rs.20 is enough in the case of Scrub Typhus.
People with slight fever shall better stay at home. They can consume coconut water, or rice broth while recuperating.