LAHORE, Feb 18: The recent weather change has reportedly caused an outbreak of mild flu in the city and its surrounding ares. Medical superintendents of different state-run hospitals in the city told APP that the weather-related ailment calls for utmost care of the patients suffering from asthmatic condition. Such patients should avoid exposure to dust and crowd, they suggested.

King Edward Medical College’s medicines department head Prof Dr Javed Akram, commenting on the situation, said people underestimated the changing weather by presuming that the winter had almost gone, which proved wrong.

He said the winter was still there, and added that it was dangerous that people were putting on sleeveless shirts with no woollies on them. Many middle-aged persons and youngsters were riding motorbikes without covering them properly, he deplored.

Prof Akram said a majority of the people had even started drinking cold water and chilled soft drinks that equally contributed to spread of flu, fever and even typhoid if not treated properly.

Saying that prevention was better than cure, he warned people should not take off woollies, avoid riding motorbikes at night without proper gear, and above all completely avoid sleeping in open at night.

Prof Akram said self-medication was yet another menace which should be completely avoided and added patients should see some qualified physician.

For the patients suffering from flu, he suggested soup, citric fruits and complete bed-rest for at least two days.—APP