Dr Santosh Kumar (Consultant, Paediatrician, and Neonatologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Banashankari) said, “In the recent 2 to 3 weeks, there has been a noticeable increase in upper respiratory tract infections, particularly viral flu, affecting children. Notably, a majority of these cases have required the administration of inhaled steroids, indicating a more severe nature of the illnesses. The prolonged duration of colds and coughs in children can extend beyond 10–15 days before achieving full recovery.”
Dr Krishna Prasad, a consultant paediatrician at Motherhood Hospitals in Electronic City, said, “School administrators typically make decisions regarding school dress codes in consultation with parents, considering various factors such as tradition, aesthetics, and cultural norms. The recommendation to modify dress codes stems from the necessity for students to protect themselves from mosquito bites, as dengue mosquitoes often target exposed skin.
Jayashree, a mother of a seven-year-old, shared her frustrations, saying, “My kid refuses to eat without a mobile in his hand. If we snatch the mobile phone, then we are seeing withdrawal symptoms, and my son is acting cranky. I hope there should be a way out like the Chinese proposal to limit screen time.”
Since last year, experts have shifted their focus from infection numbers to hospitalisations as a key indicator of covid severity. For most of the second half of June, hospitalisations remained at zero, indicating the lowest covid activity in the city since the outbreak in March 2020. Out of the 198 reported cases, 192 reported zero cases in a week. Only a few wards, such as Shettyhalli, HBR Layout, Dayananda Nagar, Rajajinagar, and Banashankari temple ward, reported an average of one case per day. Interestingly, Bellandur, which used to have the highest number of covid cases, has recently reported zero cases. Although the number of covid cases has decreased, doctors are observing a rise in flu cases, especially among children.