The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Changing weather causes ailments
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 10
City residents have already started exhibiting symptoms of various ailments due to sudden climatic changes in this part of the region. Though concerned doctors advise that there was no need to panic, they suggest that if certain precautions are taken, these minor ailments can be prevented.

Dr S.S. Bedi, a paediatrician in Model Town, said the most common ailment due to the changing weather was of Upper Respiratory Tract (URT) Infections caused by Respiratory Syncital Virus among children. He said, “Most children suffer from URT infections these days due to sudden change in weather.”

Dr Bedi said children complained of running nose, headache, bodyache, cold, cough and fever. “Usually, it is a self-limiting disease, in which the child is cured within 8 or10 days and requires only anti-allergic syrup and paracetamol for treatment,” he said.

The doctor said even a month-old child could catch this viral infection. “Even if there is minor cold and cough, proper medicine should be given to the child. The minor ailment can deteriorate into diseases like bronchitis and pneumonia if the patient is not given proper medication. It may also cause ear-infections,” said Dr Bedi. He also warned that in case of serious illness, the child needed to be hospitalised.

Another common disease during these days is repeated bronchital asthma attacks, caused due to sudden changes in weather. Pollution caused by dust, smoke and burning of paddy further add to the problem. Many chemical and toxic gases are added to the atmosphere with the bursting of crackers in the festival season, which further accentuates the problem. Several city hospitals and private practitioners have started receiving patients complaining of difficulty in breathing.

Dr Vandana, a doctor practising near Dandi Swami, said these days, she received patients complaining of bronchitis, laryngitis, distress and difficulty in breathing. “Patients also complain of watering in and irritation to eyes due to the chilly winds,” she added.

Dr Vandana advised that if possible, persons should cover their noses and eyes with a cloth while going out in the evenings. She said to protect eyes from chilly weather, glasses should be used while going out.

Dr Bedi said people, specially children, should not be exposed to the cold. A cold water bath in the morning should be avoided. Air-conditioners and other cooling systems should not be used. Small children should not be taken to late night parties or chilly areas. They should not be allowed to eat fried food, sauce, ice-creams or cold drinks, as sore throat could trigger off a severe chest infection, he said.

Also, woollen clothes should be added gradually to the children. They should not be allowed to play in dusty and smoky atmosphere. They should be kept away from the fumes of crackers in order to avoid these ailments.

Where hygiene continues to take a backseat

Ludhiana, November 10
Hygiene continues to be the biggest casualty in the city. Persons having GIT infections, viral hepatitis, typhoid fever, diarrhoea and dysentery continue to throng clinics of family doctors, child specialists and physicians throughout the year. The city is reeling under the threat of rising pollution and over-population. Congested roads and poorly planned commercial and residential areas have made matters worse.

There is unregulated growth of rehris and khomchas on roads. Most of these keep eatables uncovered and have only a bucket or two of water for cleaning plates and other utensils. One has to just stand in front of any dhaba to see the way the utensils are cleaned by the workers. Most of them, coming from the poorest sections of society, have no concept of hygiene and cleanliness. It is not uncommon to see the service boy keeping his fingers partially dipped in a glass of water while serving water and cleaning plates with dirty piece of cloth.

Marriage palaces lack clean water supply. Storage tanks are not properly cleaned and disinfected. Many guests eat at their homes and visit marriage functions only to mark attendance. Residents remember severe GIT problems after taking food at a marriage function. Certain places have become notorious for serving poor quality food. Hygiene can be seen at its worst at the Ludhiana railway station, where flies outnumber passengers and human excreta on railway tracks presents the most disturbing sight. Most stalls selling food items on the station do not protect their eatables and hawkers can be seen selling different food items uncovered. The sole cafeteria on railway platform one hardly gives any modern look.

Garbage collection continues to highly inefficient in the city. Residents have become used to the heaps of stinking garbage in front of their houses or commercial sites. In many localities, garbage bins keep on shifting from house to house, depending upon who is more resourceful and who can pay the caretaker. Even in posh localities, garbage is scattered on roads. Rag pickers make the matter worse by further scattering the garbage.

Rajeev Gupta

IMA to form regulatory body
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 10
The IMA Ludhiana has decided to form a regulatory body of its own. The function of the body will be to deal with complaints of the public against doctors.

Dr Gursharan Singh, President, IMA, Ludhiana, in a press statement today asked people to approach the body for redress of their grievances against doctors. The body will meet regularly and will soon decide its charter. The regulatory body will look into future cases only and has no plans to go through the old cases.

The president further added that the committee will work in an impartial manner and would try to win confidence of the people. “Though it does not have any legal character but would try to arbitrate between the doctors and aggrieved parties,” said Dr Gursharan Singh.

The body will comprise five doctors and depending upon the nature of cases, it will co-opt two members, one legal luminary and an-other, the expert from the speciality related to the case. The regulatory body will try to bring out a consensus amongst the doctors on various issues and to check the degradation of medical profession. Besides, the doctors will also be able to approach the body for their professional problems. This will help in defusing the tension between doctors.

The district administration has also been informed about the formation of the committee. Members of the body will not participate in the meeting if any complaint is lodged against them.

Office-bearers of this newly-formed regulatory body include Dr. L.S. Chawla, (former V.C. of the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences), who is the chairman of the committee, Dr Waheguru Pal Singh (Medical Superintendent GTB Hospital) — convener, and Dr. S.B. Khurana (former director of DMC&H), Dr Gursharan Singh (president IMA Ludhiana) and Dr Rajesh Sharma (general secretary IMA Ludhiana) — members.

Pharmacists to gherao Health Minister
Our Correspondent

Amloh, November 10
The Punjab State Pharmacists Association has decided to gherao the Health Minister, Dr Baldev Parkash Chawla, during his visit here and a rally and a march will be organised in the Lambi constituency of Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister, on November 18, stated Mr Sham Lal Sharma, president, Punjab State Pharmacists Association in a press note here today.

The rally would be held in the Primary Health Centre, Lambi, and from there the protest march would be organised. Mr Sharma criticised the government which on the pretext of economic reforms had reduced 10 per cent posts of Class III and IV employees and reduced the interest rate on small savings.

The demands include change of designation of pharmacists as pharmacy officers. Appointment of a District Pharmacy Officer at district headquarters, creation of the post of Deputy Director Pharmacy at state headquarters, review of pay by the anomaly committee, right to prescription in the absence of medical officer on the Himachal pattern, etc. Another press statement issued by Mr Karnail Singh, vice-president of the Paramedical and Health Employees’ Union, Punjab, stated that the employees would organise ‘Jhanda March’ on November 20 in the constituency of Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, Health Minister, Punjab, in Amritsar to protest against the non-implementation of demands.

Heart patients need thorough diagnosis
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 10
The incidence of having blockage of the carotid artery (which supplies blood to brain) along with coronary heart disease is increasing fast in Punjab. The worrying aspect is that the blockage in the carotid artery, which passes through the neck, generally remains undiagnosed by the doctors and they only perform bypass surgery for the heart disease, as a result the chances of a patient suddenly getting a stroke remain high which may even result in death of the patient. These views were expressed by Dr V. M. Kohli, Cardiac Surgeon, Hero DMC Heart Institute, who had recently performed one such surgery at the hospital.

Workshop on pulse polio programme
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 10
A state-level intensified Pulse Polio Programme Workshop held at Training Annexe, Civil Surgeon’s office, Ludhiana. It was organised by Dr J.G. Vohra, State Immunisation Officer, WHO, Chandigarh. The workshop was Inaugurated by Dr Rajinder Kaur, Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana. Senior Medical Officers from all blocks and Civil Hospitals, doctors from the SDM Department of CMC, ESI Hospital and Kappor Hospital attended the workshop. Programme officers Dr Tarlok Nath (ACS), Dr Neelam Bassi (DWO), Dr A.S. Chawla, Epidermiologist and Santosh Bhatia (DMEIO) were also present.

Dr J.G. Vohra, State Immunisation Officer explained the details of the IPPI.