Have fever, cough, sore throat that’s not going away? Doctors say it’s not the common flu, but the H3N2 virus

Hospitals in Delhi have reported a sharp rise in flu cases over the past two to three weeks. Patients are coming in with high fever, cough, sore throat, body ache, headache, and weakness. While most cases are mild, doctors said recovery is taking longer than usual, and a small percentage of patients require hospitalisation, a TOI report stated.

According to Dr Suranjeet Chatterjee, senior consultant, Internal Medicine, Apollo Hospital, the duration of recovery varies. "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.

H3N2 strain suspected in several cases

At Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, the increase in flu cases is also 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 added, "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."

Emphasising 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."

Monsoon-linked flu trend

The same trend is being reported at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute. "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 is appearing more severe. "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," he said.

Doctors’ advice for the public

Doctors said the current surge is in line with seasonal flu patterns during the monsoon. They advised timely medical consultation, adequate rest, hydration, and extra caution for vulnerable groups to reduce the risk of complications.

(Based on a TOI article)