Now 'ILI' Scare In Dozens Of UP Villages. Here's A Look At The Symptoms

During a mega testing drive in Prayagraj, the rapid response teams (RRTs) identified 11,707 suspected patients having influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms in 3,178 villages of 23 development blocks of the district. 

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Lucknow: With the onset of Coronavirus crisis, now reports have emerged with a large number of villages in Uttar Pradsh recording cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) that is turning fatal.

According to recent reports, during the mega testing drive in Prayagraj, the rapid response teams (RRTs) identified 11,707 suspected patients having influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms in 3,178 villages of 23 development blocks of the district. 

News agency IANS quoted Rishi Sahai, the district Covid nodal officer as saying, "house-to-house survey was undertaken as part of a state-wide effort to identify suspected patients of Coronavirus, test them and ensure treatment/medicines/admissions of those found infected." He said that a detailed micro-plan was prepared for this mission. 

Influenza-Like Illness (ILI): A Look At The Symptoms

As described by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, Influenza and other respiratory viruses, which usually circulate between spring and autumn in temperate climates, cause symptoms often referred to as influenza-like illness (ILI). 

Viruses known to cause ILI include respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, adenovirus, parainfluenza viruses, human coronaviruses and human metapneumovirus. Polymerase chain reaction assays are the most common diagnostic tests used for the differential diagnosis of ILI.

People who have influenza like illness (ILI) may present with following symptoms: 

• An acute respiratory infection, sudden cough and sore throat, with measured fever of ≥ 100.4 F, with onset within the last 10 days.
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Running or stuffy nose
• Breathlessness
• Reduced urine output
• Hemoptysis
• Altered mental status
• Somnolence and Poor feeding (in children) 

A newly elected village Pradhan in a village in Sultanpur district said that while the state is reporting cases of influenza-like illness, there is a lack of medical infrastructure in the rural areas and there is delay is getting treatment for the patient which becomes fatal.

The official further said that the primary health centres and community health centres in most districts do not even have the basic paracetamol medicines.

(With agency inputs)