The spurt in H1N1 cases in the city and across the country, and a rise in cold, cough and fever — likely H1N1 symptoms — have sent worried parents queuing up before paediatricians to get their children vaccinated against the virus (swine flu). Last week, child care clinics registered 30-40 cases of cold, cough and fever, each. Dr Umesh Vaidya, paediatrician at KEM hospital said rising cases of swine flu across the country have led to panic. “Parents are asking us to vaccinate children against H1N1 virus and we have started giving immunization shots against Influenza A, Influenza B and H1N1 virus,” Vaidya said. The Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) has asked people not to panic and said despite increasing swine flu cases (H1N1 virus) in the city, the situation was not as alarming as it was in 2009-10. Dr Anand Deshpande, President of the Pune unit of IAP has asked patients and parents of children with flu-like symptoms not to panic. Vaidya said it was only based on doctor’s clinical evaluation of patient that oseltamivir was prescribed. “Along with fever, there is severe headache, bodyache and the child looks extremely weak. It necessitates administration of Tamiflu or oseltamivir.” Dr Seemab Shaikh, ear, nose and throat specialist said parents are needlessly worried. “We keep a close watch on symptoms and if seasonal flu subsides in two to three days then there is no need for Tamiflu.According to Dr Sharad Agharkhedkar, paediatrician at Pimpri’s D Y Patil hospital, Pune has been witnessing swine flu cases since 2009. So doctors are well-versed with symptoms and Tamiflu is given if throat is extremely red and infection is bad. Parents have been asking for vaccination,” Agharkhedkar said. Meanwhile, at Serum Institute of India, 1.8 lakh vials of NasoVac (S) were available in December but there were no takers. And now there is a huge demand. “We had to destroy vaccines as shelf life had expired. Due to increasing cases across the country there have been so many enquiries,” says Dr Rajeev Dhere, Executive Director of Serum Institute of India.
