Kolkata, Nov. 9 -- Annapurna Chakraborty (65), a resident of Hooghly, has been suffering from a chronic cough for over 15 days. Despite completing a regular course of antibiotics, her condition has not improved. On Diwali, her cough worsened, following which the ENT physician she consulted prescribed steroids. In Salt Lake, Jayati Roy and her teenage son are both suffering from fever, severe cough and cold. Body ache has also been troubling them.
While West Bengal Municipal Affairs and Urban Development minister Agnimitra Paul had asked to add rose water to the water and use as anti-pollution mist spray across Kolkata during festivals, deteriorating air quality, rising respiratory health risks and the unregulated bursting of firecrackers have led to a surge in patients visiting clinics and hospitals in the aftermath of Diwali. Ruby General Hospital's outpatient department and emergency unit have reported a significant increase in visits for cough, cold, fever and respiratory flare-ups during and immediately after Diwali.
According to Dr Manali Bhattacharya, MBBS, DNB (Family Medicine), MRCP (UK), FRCP (Edinburgh), Ruby General Hospital, the transition from post-monsoon humidity to cooler weather, along with seasonal temperature fluctuations, has triggered a wave of common viral infections.
The situation has been further aggravated by rising pollution levels caused by the unregulated bursting of firecrackers. "The common symptoms patients are experiencing include persistent dry or mucus-producing cough, sore throat, fever, body ache, diarrhoea, wheezing, chest tightness and burning or watering of the eyes. Firecrackers release toxic gases such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide, which irritate the mucous membranes of the nose, throat and lungs," said Dr Bhattacharya.
Kolkata's air quality has been under scrutiny, with the bursting of firecrackers following Kali Puja and Diwali pushing the city's AQI to above 600. Dr Bhattacharya warned that increased pollution and prolonged exposure to it could trigger severe, difficult-to-control asthma attacks or acute exacerbations of COPD.
Senior paediatric consultant Dr Apurba Ghosh highlighted the respiratory problems children face due to firecrackers. "Bursting firecrackers can be avoided. This is an avoidable source of pollution," he said. Doctors have urged citizens to avoid areas where firecrackers are bursting in large numbers. They have also advised people to wear N95 masks and patients who use inhalers to continue with their prescribed medication.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.