Doctors Blame Delhi's Air Pollution As 30-year-old Non-smoker Hospitalised Due To Low Oxygen
In what appears to be a case of ailment of air pollution in the national capital, a 30-year-old man has been diagnosed with eosinophilic asthma, a type of asthma that causes inflammation of the entire respiratory system.
Man was suffering from breathlessness, dry cough
The youth was?admitted to the emergency ward of the Aakash Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital in Delhi's Dwarka on October 31 with low oxygen levels and breathing difficulty.
Doctors said that at the time of his admission, the man had already been suffering from breathlessness, dry cough and throat irritation, but no fever or any other signs of active infection.
"On examination, his blood levels showed eosinophilia which is suggestive of an allergy that caused a flare-up of bronchial asthma due to poor air quality containing several allergens and toxins," said Dr Akshay Budhraja, a consulting pulmonologist at the hospital in Dwarka where the man was treated.
"Never experienced any such symptoms"
The doctor adds, "His father and sister are asthmatic, but he never experienced any such symptoms in the past. Our hospital has seen a spike in cases with respiratory problems, especially during and after Diwali, when the air gets too toxic."
The 30-year-old patient was discharged from the hospital on November 4 and advised oxygen therapy at home.
With levels of air pollution skyrocketing in the national capital, doctors have advised those with respiratory problems to stay indoors as much as possible and avoid early morning walks. Such people have also been advised to wear N95, KN95 or FFP2 masks if they spend time outdoors because of work.
"30 to 40 percent increase" in cases
Doctors say there has been a "30 to 40 per cent increase" in the number of people coming to hospitals with respiratory problems."We have observed an increase in the severity of asthma attacks. Those with pre-existing respiratory issues are requiring hospitalisation. These are acute effects of the hazardous air pollution in the city," said Dr Vikas Maurya, head of Pulmonology Department, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh.
The hospital has been reporting 25 to 30 cases of respiratory disorders per day. Of these, three to four are of "severe" nature.
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