It was a lazy march afternoon.
Saturday, 1 O’ clock.
But it had been a busy day for me in my paediatrics clinic of our Central hospital. Two more kids are waiting, both of them are suffering from fever.
Month of February has always been the month of fever.
It is the month of Chicken pox, Measles, Mumps, Rubella and a lot more anonymous viruses that have an inclination to afflict kids. It might have derived its name from the Roman Goddess of fever- Febris. In Indian languages also, Basanta Ritu corresponds to all Basanta like ( Pox) diseases– Chicken pox, Herpes and so on.
Fortunately for me, both the kids were suffering from Mumps. Mumps is diagnosed immediately as the kid walks into your chamber. No instrument, no examination, no Investigation is required. Swelling of the parotid glands is visible from a mile.
- ‘How many days ?’ I asked
- ‘Today morning only we noticed the pain and swelling below the neck. We stopped their school and brought them to you.’
- – ‘Which school ?’ I asked
- – ‘KV 3.’ Both answered in unison.
I was getting cases from each and every school where our children are studying.
I knew that Mumps virus had entered them 2 weeks before the swelling has appeared. This is called the incubation period. A period when the virus puts its head down and builds its strength silently without causing any symptoms. Then one fine morning it explodes into its battle field. For Mumps it is 14-18 days. They must have spread the infection to 10 more class mates by this time. Of course, they have got the virus from one such friend who was symptomless and has been attending classes during his incubation period.
- “Their examination starts from Monday. What should we do ?”
- “Sorry, You have to drop the examination. You can produce a medical certificate.” I said.
I simply don’t understand why our Government schedules all its board examinations in the month of Fever.
I know some of the best students who had to drop their final examinations because of chicken Pox, Herpes. All centres have to keep an isolation hall for examinees suffering from pox and so on.
We have a spate of Mumps cases this year.
As I closed my register for the week, I suddenly became aware that this will be the 50th case of mumps this season for me. That is a huge number. Because a large number of children who are staying outside railway settlement have gone to private practitioner. The situation is same all over Odisha. This year, we have a spate of Mumps cases. I wonder why ?
I was out of touch of regular paediatrics clinic and immunisation practices since the Covid days- 2020. My posting in the PCMD office is also one of the contributors. 5 years back, Mumps cases were few and far between. They used to affect those who have not taken the MMR vaccine.
( MMR Prevents 3 diseases – Measles, Mumps and Rubella)
Since then Government of India has led a special drive of immunisation of children called Mission Indradhanush to vaccinate all children below 5 years. Recently Intensified mission Indradhanush 5.0 ( IMI 5.0) concluded on 14 October 2023.
Here is the PIB notice.
Please Go through the headlines.
Surprise of surprise. MUMPS is not included in their immunisation schedule. It is only MR- Measles and Rubella. Where is Mumps ? The middle M of the MMR is dropped.
Then realisation struck me all of a sudden. Why should we have a spate of mumps cases in Feb 2024.
It is said- “Stop vaccination and our hospitals will be filled wall to wall with sick and dying children.”
So it had happened.
How true yet how painful.
Dr Ramakanta's Ideas 