Capital sees surge in respiratory cases amid declining air quality
As air quality levels in the Capital continue to plummet, healthcare providers report a rise in patients experiencing asthma and other breathing difficulties.
Doctors in outpatient departments are seeing between 70 to 80 patients daily with respiratory complaints, including many previously healthy individuals with no history of asthma. This alarming trend, which intensifies each year from October to December, underscores the severe public health impacts of pollution.
On Wednesday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was 364 at 4 pm, further exacerbating health concerns.
Dr Sandeep Nayer, Principal Director and Head of the Department of Chest and Respiratory Diseases at MAX Super Speciality Hospital, said, “Not only has the number of patients increased, but the severity of their symptoms has also escalated. I’ve been admitting patients to the hospital, with some requiring ICU care. Even those who have been diligent about their asthma management are ending up in the hospital,” he noted. “The sudden spike in pollution levels following Dasehra has undoubtedly caused significant problems,” he added.
Dr Nayer said, “People who have never had asthma and were active in outdoor activities are now coming to us with breathing issues. This has been a recurring theme every year, yet no effective action has been taken to address it. The problem persists from September through December.”
He further reported, “I’ve seen about a 75 per cent increase in my outpatient numbers. Where I once saw 30-40 patients, I’m now seeing 70-80 daily with respiratory issues.”
Dr Ujjwal Parakh, senior consultant in the department of chest medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, echoed these concerns. “The number of patients coming in for asthma or lung disease has increased significantly. Those who already suffered from asthma are finding it harder to manage their condition, and seasonal sufferers are now facing year-round issues.”
Dr Parakh explained that recent changes in weather, combined with rising pollution levels, have aggravated allergic conditions and worsened symptoms. “Asthma patients have highly reactive airways, so any kind of pollution can severely impact their health and exacerbate their symptoms,” he said.
