Temp see-saw unleashes viruses, leads to cough-and-cold flare-up
Times of India | 25 January 2026
Kolkata: A cough and cold outbreak has left thousands of Kolkatans with a sore throat, choked voice and fever, caused by a fresh spate of viruses unleashed by temperature fluctuations over the past week. With the minimum temperature fluctuating between 13°C and 15°C since last Sunday, the chill in the air is see-sawing, leading to a fast spread of infection.
The principal symptoms are an obstinate cough, chest congestion and low fever. The spread could continue until the mercury settled down, doctors said. "While our respiratory unit is fully occupied, there is now a rush of patients at the OPD with severe cough and cold, some of whom had to be admitted. The sudden mercury rise led many to discard warm clothes, leading to infections due to the temperature difference," said Charnock Hospital pulmonology head Soumya Sengupta. He added those with COPD or asthma could now be affected as pollution remained high despite the temperature rise. "Pollutants keep circulating at lower levels for a longer time in winter and can easily infiltrate the lungs. As the mercury is not rising significantly, it will get worse," he said.
The sudden mercury rise after a long chilly spell activated viruses, like rhinovirus, metapneumo virus, and respiratory syncytial virus, causing infections that strike with every temperature fluctuation, said RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences intensivist Sauren Panja. "These viruses cause upper respiratory tract infections, with cough and fever as the symptoms. Infection in the respiratory tract triggers swelling in the airway passage, called laryngopharyngitis, that leads to loss of or hoarseness of voice," said Panja.
Doctors said respiratory viruses were still active and there could be a further spurt in pulmonary illnesses. "There was a spurt in haemophillus pneumonia, which was severe in several patients over the past few days. They had to be admitted to the ICU. Streptococcus pneumoniae is also striking. This will continue as long as the temperature fluctuates," said Manipal Hospital infectious diseases physician Sayan Chakrabarty.
Many suffered exacerbations triggered by allergens that infiltrate lungs with pollutants, according to Peerless Hospital chief microbiologist Bhaskar Narayan Chowdhury. "Those with an existing lung condition or airway disease are suffering. There is a fresh spurt in viruses, like metapneumo, rhinovirus, para-influenza, and in pneumonia-triggering bacteria. We even received a swine flu patient and some non-Covid coronavirus patients," said Chowdhury.
Children are also affected though most infections are moderate and recovery is quick. "Very young kids were affected as well, though teenagers are more prone to infection as they go out of home more often. The symptoms are similar to adults, and upper respiratory tract infection was the trigger. As pollution levels rise, more could be affected over the next few weeks," said paediatrician Shantanu Ray. Antibiotics should not be taken unless prescribed, doctors said. "Anti-allergic drugs, symptomatic medicines and gurgling should suffice," added Ray.