POLLUTION

Delhi Witness Rise in Patients Suffering from Respiratory Disease Post-Diwali: Expert

Children celebrate Diwali with firecrackers on the occasion of Diwali. (Wasim Sarvar/IANS) — Children celebrate Diwali with firecrackers.
(Wasim Sarvar/IANS)

Delhi's Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital has seen a growth of 8 to 10% in patients suffering from respiratory problems due to pollution after Diwali, its Medical Director Dr Suresh Kumar said on Sunday.

Talking to IANS, Dr Suresh Kumar said that they have 10-12 patients every day visiting the hospital with breathing problems.

"Air pollution has become a major issue post-Diwali. Elderly people and children are the main victims of the pollution," he said, adding that long-term exposure to chronically high PM 2.5 levels weakens the lungs' ability to function.

The air quality in Delhi improved marginally on Sunday from Saturday's "severe" to "very poor" category. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System forecast, the AQI will continue to remain in the "very poor" category till at least Tuesday.

As for the respiratory and other problems caused by pollution, Dr Kumar said they have a capacity for 120 patients, but due to the outbreak of pollution-related diseases post-Diwali, they are getting around 140 patients every day in the hospital.

He said the emergency and OPD wards are getting an average of 140 patients in total, with all types of problems, but most of them are suffering from respiratory issues and dipping levels of oxygen. It also includes the rising number of asthma cases in children.

About the preventive measures, he thinks there are two ways to protect people from such rising levels of pollution: using masks and avoiding stepping outside.

He added that the high level of PM 2.5 particles could lead to lung infections, irritation in the eyes, and respiratory problems.

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The above article has been published from a wire agency with minimal modifications to the headline and text.

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