Hosps see rush of patients with respiratory problems

Hosps see rush of patients with respiratory problems

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: 06.11.2021

Anshuman Gupta (name changed), who suffers from asthma, was doing fine until Thursday on regular medications. However, the spike in pollution levels over the last 24 hours led to acute exacerbation of symptoms and the south Delhi resident had to be rushed to the emergency room of a private hospital in the middle of the night, even as his family wrapped up Diwali celebrations. “We had to administer steroids as well as oxygen therapy to stabilise the symptoms. The patient is doing better now,” Dr Rajesh Chawla, senior consultant, pulmonary and critical care, at Apollo hospital, said.

Like Gupta, many people with a history of respiratory health issues are finding it difficult to breathe the polluted air and, in a few cases, are landing in hospitals with symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, constant cough and dizziness, among others.

“We are seeing an increase in the number of OPD visits as well as admissions on account of respiratory problems. Patients who have asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — a chronic inflammatory lung disease are coming to the hospital with acute attacks and are getting admitted even in ICUs. Also, many of our patients require escalation of treatment these days,” Dr Neetu Jain, senior consultant, pulmonology at PSRI hospital, said.

With winter conditions setting in, the dust and particulate material from vehicular pollution and smoke from crackers have caused smog-like conditions, says Dr Shuchin Bajaj, founder director, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals.

“The dangerous mix of pollutants can cause shortterm damages, which we can see now in terms of exacerbation of respiratory symptoms. But long-term damage can be even more catastrophic, especially in children who grow up in such a polluted environment,” he added.

Dr Arunesh Kumar, senior consultant and head of the department of pulmonology at Paras hospital, said people who have a history of respiratory disease such as asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease, should strictly adhere to their regular medications and see their doctors if they notice that the symptoms have started deteriorating.

DOCTOR SAYS

Long-term damage can be even more catastrophic, especially in children who grow up in such a polluted environment