Post-Covid, viral and bacterial infections lasting much longer in patients: Dr Pranav Kabra

MUMBAI: Dr Pranav Kabra of the Raksha Multispeciality Hospital at Malad in suburban Mumbai and director of the Raksha Hospital Research Centre (RHRC) has opined that post Covid, viral and bacterial infections in patients seem to be lasting much longer. “The worst affected are kids,” Dr Kabra opined.

While the numbers and volume of patients is much higher this year, after Covid, the ailments too last much longer and normal or routine doses of antibiotics and other drugs is not sufficient to cure them, he said. “Our team at the Raksha Hospital Research Centre (RHRC)  looked at case studies of more than 100 patients, 30 percent of whom were kids below the age of 12. The duration of the fever and flu is extended by 2-4 days for some kids and the cold, cough, fever, runny nose, diarrhea and weakness lasts up to 10 to 12 days. The post-viral cough stretches for 1-2 weeks sometimes going up to 3 weeks, requiring continued doses of medication,” Dr Kabra explained, adding that stronger medicines and antibiotics are required to be prescribed than earlier, to get rid of the same ailments.

According to him the main reason is the fact that kids were shielded from infections for the last two years due to shut schools, lowered interaction with other kids, playgrounds and schools closed and additional precautionary measures at home and elsewhere.

“This has reduced immunity to common colds, flu and other ailments, causing the infection to last longer,” Dr Kabra said.