OPDs in hospitals flooded with patients suffering from respiratory disorders

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 18

It is again time of the year when the graph of respiratory problems rises and the use of inhalers and nebulizers increases manifold. All OPDs of various hospitals in the city are flooded with patients suffering from bronchitis, asthma, cough and cold.

Doctors are witnessing nearly 20 to 30 per cent increase of patients, who complain of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The worst affected are children. Nowadays, every third child is facing respiratory problems, which increase during harvesting season.

Many people are allegric to different pollens and stubble burning acts as a trigger during this season. Although the government has been advocating not burning of wheat stubble, and opting for other techniques, including happy seeder to remove crop residue from fields, farmers have given two hoots to such repeated warnings.

Farmers continue to burn stubble as they find it more economical way of clearing their fields. Earlier, respiratory problems were common in the 50 to 60 age group, but with rising pollutants in the air, more and more children are becoming vulnerable to respiratory diseases. Pollutants in the air affect sensitive throats of children and land them in hospitals.

“Today, every third child is having one or the other problem in breathing. It increases manifold during the harvesting season. The smoke emitted by stubble burning harms the respiratory tract as soot is deposited in the lungs. It leads to asthma and other respiratory problems,” Dr Rajinder Gulati, Senior Medical Officer, Civil Hospital, Khanna, who is also an expert paediatrician.

“My OPD is flooded with patients complaining of respiratory problems. Earlier, it was found more among the village population during the harvesting season, but today, it is common among the people living in both the rural and urban areas. The most worrying fact is that children are also getting affected,” said Dr Kirandeep, an expert in pulmonary medicine.

“Patients with sinusitis and asthma are worst effected during the harvesting season. Stubble burning has worsened the situation. People living near the city limits should wear wet mask to protect themselves,” she said.

“I am asthmatic and use three inhalers. But during this season, I use nearly five to six inhalers as my condition worsens during early morning and late evenings,” said Harinder Kumar, a patient.