New Delhi: Hospitals across the city have reported a sharp rise in flu cases over the past two to three weeks, with patients commonly presenting symptoms such as high fever, cough, sore throat, body ache, headache, and weakness.Doctors say while most cases are mild, recovery this season often takes longer than usual, and a small percentage of patients require hospitalisation.According to Dr Suranjeet Chatterjee, senior consultant, Internal Medicine, Apollo Hospital, the duration of recovery depends on the severity of the infection, an individual’s immunity, and any underlying health conditions.“While many recover within 3 to 5 days, in some cases it may take up to 7 days or longer, particularly if complications develop. Hospitalisation is required in about 2–5% of cases, mainly among the elderly or those with comorbidities. Even after recovery, many patients continue to experience a lingering cough, weakness, and reduced appetite,” he said.At Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, the surge is equally visible. “In the past two weeks, more than half of the patients visiting OPD with fever have exhibited flu-like symptoms. While we don’t test every case, H3N2 appears to be the predominant strain. Patients often present with a high-grade fever that is unresponsive to paracetamol, along with throat pain, cough, headache, and body ache,” said Dr Rommel Tickoo, director, Internal Medicine. He noted that while most patients recover within 5–7 days, a significant number develop bronchitis leading to a persistent cough, and a few progress to complications such as pneumonia that require hospital care. “Even after recovery, lingering fatigue and loss of appetite are common,” he added.Emphasising the importance of prevention, Dr Tickoo said, “This is a timely reminder that annual flu vaccination is strongly recommended for everyone, especially those at higher risk, to reduce the severity and spread of influenza,” he said.The trend is similar at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, where doctors are seeing a steady increase in flu cases through the monsoon season. “We are currently treating around 15–18 flu patients daily, most of them presenting with high fever, sore throat, body ache, cough, nasal and chest congestion, and sometimes gastrointestinal infections,” said Dr Arvind Aggarwal, senior consultant, Internal Medicine. He added that this year’s flu appears more severe than usual, as many patients continue to experience a persistent cough and fatigue even after the fever subsides. While most recover within 5–7 days with medication and home remedies, weakness and cough may linger for up to two weeks. A small fraction—particularly the elderly, young children, and those with pre-existing heart or lung disease—may develop serious symptoms such as breathlessness or bluish lips and nails, requiring hospitalisation.Doctors across hospitals emphasise that this surge, while concerning, is consistent with seasonal flu patterns that peak during the monsoon. They advise timely medical consultation, adequate rest, hydration, and extra caution for vulnerable groups to avoid complications.
