Swine flu virus victims have no symptoms, report doctors in India

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/sep/240910-Pune-H1N1-Patients-Dr-Meetings-swine-flu-ymptoms.htm

Swine flu virus changes colours

By: Alifiya Khan

Date:  2010-09-24

Doctors across hospitals and a state review meeting find H1N1 patients either showing symptoms of bacterial infection or no symptoms at all
 
Health officials have yet another reason to worry. Doctors across hospitals treating swine flu patients have reported that the symptoms of the flu have changed. Patients testing positive for the virus are either showing no symptoms at all and appear healthy or show symptoms that were not exhibited before causing much confusion.

Altered: Swine flu symptoms have changed, causing confusion among doctors.

Speaking to MiD DAY, Dr.C A Kante, officer in charge of swine flu cell said the new symptoms or rather the lack of it was discussed at a state level review meeting as well.

“This is actually a viral infection, but now the symptoms being displayed are of a bacterial infection. Instead of showing typical symptoms such as cold, cough and fever; people are getting loose motions and vomitting,” said Kante.

“Earlier, the virus was affecting the upper respiratory tract and central nervous system but now it has started affecting the gastro-intestinal tract. All hospitals and doctors have been asked to stay on alert,” Kante said.
“It is true the symptoms have indeed changed. We get positive reports for children who have absolutely no symptoms at all.

They appear perfectly normal on the outside but actually they have been suffering from the flu for quite sometime,” said Dr Aarti Kinikar, head of paediatric department, Sassoon Hospital.

Dr Sharad Agharkedkhar, president of Indian Medical Association, Pune said that all doctors need to be on alert as the symptoms could be mistaken for some other infection as well.

“If the symptoms are manifesting themselves in a completely different manner then it would get confusing for doctors to diagnose and it would not be fair to blame them. Firstly, there should be increase in preventive care as that is the key to stopping the virus. Also, doctors need to be really alert and should watch out for new symptoms too,” he said.