Ten-15 pc rise in patients suffering from respiratory illness due to pollution

With Diwali just a week away Delhi is grappling with rising pollution levels as several areas report an AQI exceeding 300 indicating very poor air qualityDr Rajesh Chawla a senior consultant on Respiratory Diseases at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital noted that the city is experiencing respiratory illnesses earlier than usual which typically peaked in November He said that as a result of the poor air quality there is a 1015 per cent rise in the number of patients suffering from respiratory diseasesThis time Delhi is witnessing respiratory illnesses earlier that used to be recorded in November We are seeing the pollution rising earlier than November this year Due to this there is a 1015 per cent rise in the number of patients suffering from respiratory diseases Rajesh Chawla saidThe rate of infections is also rising If you want to curb air pollution then you have to take steps all year round Due to particulate matter in the air PM 10 and PM 25 and irritant gases like sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide you get watery eyes and cough when you venture outside he addedHe also said that air pollution is a slow poison and can affect children and elders Air pollution is like slow poison It affects children in developing age and elders Action should be taken at a personal government and national level If you want to prevent the effects of air pollution then using an N95 face mask is essential he saidThe centralrun hospital Ram Manohar Lohia has also started running special OPD services for Air Pollution patientsDr Ajit Jindal from the Respiratory department said Right now we are seeing patients of respiratory eyes and skin complaints major in our OPDs We have seen the increased number of patients in our chest OPD now with the vision of our medical superintendent Dr Ajay Shukla we have started this pollutionrelated illness clinic every Monday from 2 to 4 pmToday we saw patients coming with the cough sneezing cold itching in the throat watering eyes and some of the patients with burning in the skin These are the main symptoms which patients are coming with he explainedThe Commission for Air Quality Management CAQM has ordered the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan GRAPII in DelhiNCR on Monday after the overall Air Quality Index dropped to Very Poor category in the region It will be effective on October 22 TuesdayDelhi recorded a daily average Air Quality Index AQI of 310 ie Very Poor category on date as per the daily AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board CPCBWith Stage II of GRAP coming into force an 11point action plan is applicable with immediate effect in the entire NCR in addition to all StageI actions of GRAP already in forceThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever