Late diagnosis causing H1N1 deaths in state

Swine flu is causing deaths in Maharashtra because patients are reporting late for treatment. Also, a majority of the victims fall in the 16-44 age group, which means the young are most vulnerable because they are yet to develop immunity against the relatively new H1N1 virus.

These are the findings of a preliminary study conducted by the Union health ministry in the state, which accounts for 48 of the 78 H1N1 fatalities in the country. 

Three people, including a jewellery designer from Navi Mumbai, died on Thursday. The 29-year-old man succumbed to the infection at MGM Hospital in Vashi.

The current H1N1 death rate in the country is 2.21%.

So far, 25 people have died of swine flu in Pune, seven each in Mumbai  and Nashik, two each in Thane and Latur, and one each in Aurangabad, Dhule, Jalna and Beed.

An analysis of 30 fatal cases randomly picked from Pune and Mumbai has revealed that most of the patients died of cough and pneumonitis (inflammation in lungs), which had set in because they reported late for treatment. Health officials feel this may be the cause for deaths in other cities too.  

According to Dr RK Srivastawa, director general of health services, the 30 deaths analysed in Maharashtra fell under category ‘C’, which means the patients showed typical swine flu symptoms — breathlessness, drowsiness, chest pain, coughing up blood, low blood pressure and bluish nails.

Srivastawa said most of these patients had reported five days after having caught the infection. “Had they reported to a designated government health centre in time, their lives could have been saved,” he said.

In all these cases, pneumonitis had set in and the patients’ lungs had lower breathing
capacity by the time they reported at H1N1 centres. “Most of them had first gone to private hospitals or doctors, who could not detect the problem in time. When their condition worsened, they came to government hospitals,” Srivastawa said.

Have flu? Rush to a designated hospital
The Union health ministry has asked states to create awareness among people to seek early treatment. Dr RK Srivastawa, director general of health services, said patients should “straightaway go to a designated hospital rather than wasting time with private doctors” since the symptoms of H1N1 influenza and seasonal flu are similar.