No let-up in smog, patients at receiving end

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 14

Smoke from vehicles and burning of stubble in fields has mixed with the fog to produce smog, which refuses to settle in the region.

It is affecting children, especially those who already had respiratory allergies.

The toxic smog is causing irritation in throat and cough, burning sensation in eyes, aggravation of respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and pneumonia.

Cough is the first symptom of irritation in the breathing tract. When it becomes more severe, a person experiences breathlessness and then needs a nebuliser.

Dr Ajay Gupta, a city-based child specialist, said smog had started affecting children and patients as throat, cough and respiratory diseases have seen a rise in the past few weeks.

He said in this atmosphere, parents should follow some steps, which include restricting outdoor activities of children and using face mask when outdoors. N95/99 masks should be used whenever people step out.

Further, air purifying plants such as aloe vera, ivy and spider plant can be placed in homes and offices. They help purify indoor air and minimise indoor pollution.

Even ventilation in the kitchen and bathroom avoids indoor air pollution. It must be made sure that there is a chimney in the kitchen and an exhaust fan in the bathroom. This will ensure that the air is re-circulated. Indoor pollution can be worse than outdoor pollution.

Steam treatment must be given to children every day. This would clear the air passage of the harmful particulate matter.

Windows and doors must be opened between 3 pm and 5 pm and air must be allowed to circulate. On a bright sunny day, this is the time slot when concentration of harmful particulate matter (PM 2.5) is the lowest in the air.

Dr Ajay recommended giving jaggery to children. This flushes out pollutants from lungs. Fruits rich in Vitamin C, magnesium and Omega fatty acids must also be included in diet. This will help beat the ill-effects of pollution by keeping the immunity up.

Moreover, ginger and tulsi tea once or twice a day is extremely healthy for minimising pollution.