Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 27: Doctors Association of Kashmir (DAK) today claimed that the official figures of 32 flu deaths so far this season are underestimating as many flu deaths go unreported in Kashmir.
A DAK spokesman in a statement said the figures only provide a snapshot of the true death toll that flu has taken in the Valley.
DAK President, Dr Nisar ul Hassan said that most people who die from flu are not tested for flu or they seek medical care later in their illness when flu is no longer detected. “Older patients don’t develop typical flu symptoms. In them feeling weak or confused may be the only sign of having the flu. When patients lack classic signs, health professionals don’t think of the diagnosis. This means older patients go undiagnosed and untreated.”
Dr Nisar said prompt recognition of flu and prompt treatment with anti-flu medication is the key in reducing the chances of serious illness and death.
“More education is needed among health care providers about the variability in symptoms of flu in different populations so that during flu season, they think of the illness more frequently, even when a patient doesn’t have classic signs,” he said.
Dr Nisar said some commonly used tests to diagnose flu in clinical settings misdiagnose many patients. “The rapid diagnostic tests used in our hospitals to diagnose these viruses are not sensitive and provide false negative result,” adding, “Clinicians should use molecular tests for diagnosing flu instead of rapid tests which miss many cases of flu.”
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