Freak weather, foul air gives rise to ailments

Gurgaon: The wide variation between day and night temperature and rising air pollution have led to a spurt in viral infections, bronchial allergies and orthopedic disorders. Private hospitals say their outpatient departments (OPD) are flooded with patients, mostly children, suffering from asthma, bronchitis, chest congestion and upper respiratory tract infections.

In fact, there has been a 15 to 20% increase in the footfall of patients in the OPDs of many hospitals as compared to the same period last year. While an increase of 15 to 20% has been witnessed in Fortis, there has been a rise of 10 to 15% in Medanta and 30% in Paras. A 30% increase has been seen among children coming to the hospitals. Majority of cases have been recorded in the pulmonology, internal medicine and orthopedics departments.

"There has been an increase of 25% in footfall at pediatric department as compared to the last year. As far as respiratory diseases among children are concerned, the number has gone up by 30%. Even though we see increased inflow of patients every year during offset of winter, this year there is a considerable increase and thus the trend is worrying," said Dr Manish Manan of Paras Hospital.

Dr Sushila Kataria, associate director of internal medicine at Medanta, said, "Variation in temperature leads to increase in propagation of various viruses. Patients with fever-like symptoms, chest infection, wheezing and coughing have definitely increased by 10 to 15%."

Pulmonologists, on the other hand, see air pollution as a major culprit. "Children are becoming more vulnerable to respiratory diseases as their respiratory organs are sensitive and they go out early in the morning and come back in the afternoon. While in the morning, temperature is low and it is smoggy, temperature goes up considerably in the afternoon. To fight air pollution in Gurgaon, the city needs to take active steps to control dust pollution rising from construction sites," said Dr Krishan Chug of department of pediatrics at Fortis.

Patients with orthopedic disorders also face problems during this season. "Variation in temperature affects the vascular system of our body. The size of vessels keeps varying as per the temperature. Cases of arthritis and joint pain, therefore, go up by 20% during this season. Those who have undergone replacement surgeries also experience aggravation in pain," said Dr L Tomar, senior orthopedic surgeon at Max Hospital.

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