You wake up with a cough that won’t go away, a fever that comes out of nowhere, and waves of exhaustion that make even simple tasks seem hard. A lot of people in Delhi-NCR are feeling this way right now because cases of H3N2 flu, a common kind of seasonal flu, are on the rise. Health professionals say that there has been a significant rise in hospital visits this fall, and they are encouraging people to stay calm and be aware. We’ll talk about what H3N2 is, how it spreads, and what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones in this post.
Getting to know the H3N2 virus
There is a type of influenza A virus called H3N2 flu. The name comes from the fact that its surface proteins, hemagglutinin H3 and neuraminidase N2, are different from each other. It spreads every flu season, although the worst instances arise in India from October to March. It usually hits older people and little children the hardest. People who are already frail can get worse symptoms and difficulties from H3N2, such as pneumonia. This is not the same as a regular cold, which can continue for a while.
The spike in Delhi-NCR this year is the same as the milder weather that keeps people inside, which makes it easier for the virus to spread through coughs and sneezes. This epidemic isn’t as deadly as others, but it puts a lot of stress on local clinics. Imagine crowded emergency rooms full with families searching for quick help.
Seeing the Signs Early
The symptoms of H3N2 flu are like those of a bad cold, except they come on quickly and are severe. Some of the most common ones are a high temperature (up to 102°F or more), chills, body aches, a dry cough, a sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, a headache, and feeling very tired. Some people, especially kids, also get sick to their stomachs or have diarrhea. These usually appear 1 to 4 days after being exposed and linger for about a week. However, tiredness can last longer.
In real life: A person who worked in an office in Delhi said, “It felt like my body was running a marathon without moving.” You should see a doctor immediately away if your symptoms get worse, like if you have trouble breathing or chest pain. This could signal you have a secondary infection.
How Doctors Find out what’s wrong and fix it
The first step in receiving a diagnosis is to talk about your symptoms and what you’ve been around recently. In most clinics, this is followed by a simple test of the nose. This rapid antigen test gives results in minutes, which helps doctors rule out other viruses like COVID-19.
Antibiotics don’t work on viruses, thus the focus of treatment is on getting rid of the pain. Over-the-counter medications like paracetamol for fever, drinking a lot of fluids, and relaxing are also common remedies. People who are at high risk can get better faster if they start taking antivirals like oseltamivir right away. The most important thing is to stop it: Get the flu vaccination every year, which protects against H3N2. Wash your hands often and use masks in crowded places. Tip: Drink a lot of honey-lemon tea to help your cough. It’s a family favorite that everyone can eat.
Experts say that community care is important as Delhi-NCR rides this wave. If you’re sick, remain home and aid your neighbors by sharing resources. If we all follow these simple guidelines this season, we can all relax.