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Every second person is experiencing prolonged post-viral cough, breathlessness and sneezing. This trend is a rarity, especially in North India, where more flu cases have been reported in the months of January, February and March.
According to Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, Group Medical Director, Max Healthcare & Senior Director, Institute of Internal Medicine, the symptoms of the influenza virus strain are slightly different and a bit more severe than how it was in previous years during the flu season.
“Lots of patients are complaining of persistent cough or bouts of cough which keeps going on for many days, sometimes even for weeks after the flu settles. Normally, we don’t see flu cases in North India in the months of February and March. Till now, we are seeing a lot of cases coming in. Seasonality has extended in most countries,” said Dr Sandeep Budhiraja.
Most of these cases are caused by the H3N2 virus, a type of influenza A virus, which is severe, but not as epidemical in nature as the deadly H1N1 virus (swine flu).
WHAT IS H3N2 VIRUS?
H3N2 virus is a type of influenza virus called the influenza A virus. It is a respiratory viral infection that causes illnesses every year. This subtype of influenza A virus was discovered in 1968 in humans.
The virus derives from types of protein strains of the influenza A virus – hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). HA has over 18 different subtypes, each numbered H1 to H18 while NA has 11 different subtypes, each numbered N1 to N11. The H3N2 is a combination of the two protein strains of the influenza A virus.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF H3N2 VIRUS?
The symptoms of the H3N2 virus include cough, runny nose or congested nose, sore throat, headaches, body aches, fever, chills, fatigue, diarrhoea, vomiting and breathlessness.
WHAT ARE THE PRECAUTIONS YOU SHOULD TAKE TO AVOID H3N2 VIRUS?
To prevent any type of viral infection, precautions include getting vaccinated first. Sanitise your surroundings by washing your hands regularly with soap. Avoid contact with people who are ill or wear a mask. If you are sneezing or coughing, it is advisable to cover your mouth as the viral infection is contagious.
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR H3N2 VIRUS?
The treatment for H3N2 virus is quite uncomplicated as people should take more fluids and keep themselves hydrated. Regular over-the-counter medications for fever, cough or headaches can be consumed to relieve the symptoms. Annual flu shots for the influenza virus should be administered and taken around this time. If symptoms are severe, visiting a doctor is advisable.
