Viral pneumonia

TT, Cooch Behar, Oct. 9: Around 70 children aged between two months and five years with suspected viral pneumonia have been admitted to Maharaja Jitendra Narayan (MJN) Hospital here in the past two days.

Most children are from Dinhata subdivision and have cough, cold, fever and breathing problems as symptoms.

“Around 70 children have been admitted in the past two days and many are suffering from viral pneumonia. It is a common disease that occurs during this time of the year. But this time, the intensity of the attack seems to be more. The symptoms are common, like fever, cough and sneeze but in some cases, children can also develop breathing problems,” G.P. Nayak, a pediatrician at MJN Hospital, said.

Viral pneumonia is an infection in the lungs caused by a virus and doctors in north Bengal said it could be serious, mostly for children under five, if not treated at the right time.

The child ward of MJN Hospital has 30 beds and two additional rooms with 10 beds each have been opened to cope up with the rush, sources said.

According to sources, absence of doctors at the Cooch Behar subdivisional hospitals of Mathabhanga, Mekhliganj, Dinhata and Tufanganj because of the Durga Puja holidays has increased the pressure on MJN hospital, where most children have been referred to.

“I had taken my four-year-old daughter to Dinhata subdivisional hospital yesterday. Doctors there asked me to bring her here (MJN Hospital),” Safikul Islam from Sukarurkuthi in Dinhata said.

Subhasish Saha, chief medical officer of health, Cooch Behar, said: “As of now, 70 children are under treatment but all of them may not be suffering from viral pneumonia. Yesterday, there were 86 children at the hospital (including those who were admitted earlier) and only six had viral pneumonia. We are not taking it lightly and keeping a close watch. Instructions have been passed to block health officials to see if children are suffering from telltale symptoms. If necessary, medication and treatment should be provided.”