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Mumbai: Poor air quality in winter reason for infections

Low temperature has led to an increase in number of health issues including breathlessness

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Climate change and poor air quality in the city has led to an increase in the number of health issues. According to city-based general physicians, the number of patients with common ailments like sniffing, cold, cough and viral has risen.

According to doctors, unusually low temperatures at night, and construction work in the city is causing high levels of pollution. Dr Pragji Vaja, secretary of General Practitioner Association, "Due to the construction site, sky scrapper and other construction activities in the city, higher vehicular population, and lifestyle, citizen suffer from health issues."

The ENT Municipal Hospital in Fort has been getting more cases of cold and cough in winter than during other seasons. Medical superintendent of ENT Municipal Hospital, Dr Deepika Rane said, "During winter, starting from the month of November, more patients visit the hospital on OPD basis as compared to on other seasons. Most patients have a common complaint of sniffing, cold, cough and viral."

"On an average, we see 20 to 25 new patients every day on OPD basis. Majority of the cases are children and senior citizens. Most of them complain about cold, cough and respiratory issues," medical superintendent of St George Hospital, Dr Madhukar Gaikwad said.

Other ailments include allergies and infections of the respiratory tract. Consultant physician, Dr Hemant Thacker, also a cardiometabolic specialist, said, "Many patients get breathless too. Besides cold and cough, patients come complaining about sniffing, running nose, throat infection. Patients with health conditions like asthma, diabetic, chronic heart and kidney, suffer due to the change in climate."

According to a doctor from the Nanavati Hospital, there has been a 10 per cent rise in cases of cough and bronchitis in the last few days. Dr Salil Bendre, chest physician, Nanavati Hospital, said, "In the last few weeks, there is a substantial increase in respiratory cases in all age groups. Children are having complaints of a dry cough and wheezing. The cold temperature with the increased air pollution is causing a rise in cases of asthma, bronchitis."

20 TO 25 NEW PATIENTS DIAGNOSED DAILY

Most patients are kids & elderly with allergies & respiratory tract issues

CITIZENS SPEAK

I have a dust allergy since childhood. During winter, I face allergy due to pollution. Since a month, I have been taking medicines for cold, cough.
Snehal Roge, 30, Mulund

I was suffering from high fever with a stomach ache. Even during school picnic, my father had to follow our bus till the picnic spot so I could be in supervision.
Gargi Ajit Shirsat, 13, Mulund

I have been suffering from a dry cough for two weeks. I was initially trying to avoid going to the physician but later on visited the doctor’s clinic for treatment after a week.
Amit Nyaynit, 29, Chembur

I have been suffering from cold and cough for four days. I am yet to visit my doctor’s clinic. Due to cough, I have been facing chest pain issues too.
Prakash Gujar, 29, Borivali

EXPERT SPEAKS

Besides cold and cough, patients come complaining about sniffing, running nose, throat infection. Patients with health conditions like asthma, diabetic, chronic heart and kidney, suffer due to the change in climate
Dr Hemant Thacker, Cardiometabolic specialist

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