Doctors in Noida are reporting a rise in patients complaining of persistent cough, throat irritation, wheezing, breathlessness and allergic reactions, including among people with no previous history of respiratory ailments, as post- Diwali air pollution adds to the respiratory health burden in the city and the wider Delhi-NCR region.
Doctors said the symptoms were being reported across age groups. Besides, a few children and adults also reported burn injuries to their hands and faces. “Patients are presenting with cough, throat irritation, nasal congestion, sneezing, wheezing and breathlessness. The impact was also visible in emergency departments around Diwali. “On Diwali, the patient load in our emergency department was almost double the usual. We received patients with multiple complaints, including breathlessness, air pollution-related complications and acute asthma attacks. Patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should continue using their prescribed inhalers and follow their treatment plans.
At Fortis Hospital in Noida’s Sector 62, pulmonologists are seeing 20-30 new patients daily with allergic airway diseases, asthma exacerbations, persistent cough, wheezing and breathlessness. Felix Hospital in Sector 137 recorded nearly double its usual emergency patient load on Diwali night, with around 12 patients reporting respiratory complaints and burn injuries between 8 pm and midnight. Around 12 such patients were brought to the emergency department between 8 pm and midnight,” said Dr DK Gupta, chairman, Felix Hospital.
We are also seeing fresh cases among people who have never had these conditions before,” said Dr Rahul Sharma, director, pulmonology and critical care, Fortis Hospital. Of particular concern, Sharma said, were young patients without known comorbidities who had developed pneumonia and, in some cases, progressed to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). particulate matter can trigger airway inflammation, impair respiratory defence mechanisms and increase susceptibility to infections, potentially aggravating lung injury, he said While pollution cannot be considered the sole cause. Residents should keep windows closed when outdoor pollution levels are high and ventilate their homes when air quality improves, doctors said.
