20% Rise in The Number of Patients Suffering From Cough, Sneezing, Fever, Running Nose, Body Pain Due To A Dip In Mumbai’s Air Quality

by Priya Jadhav

Mumbai: Mumbaikars may encounter respiratory problems as Mumbai’s Air Quality Index (AQI), plummeted to ‘moderate’. According to the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), on Wednesday, the air quality of Malad was poor (244), followed by Borivali (228 poor), BKC (210 poor), Andheri (188 moderate), Colaba (104 moderate), Mazagaon (136 moderate), Worli (178 moderate), Bhandup (101 moderate), while Chembur is (181 moderate). City doctors suggest precautionary measures like covering the face to keep respiratory ailments at bay.

As Mumbai’s air quality is worsening, city-based doctors have reported a surge in the number of patients suffering from various respiratory ailments. Dr Arvind Kate, chest physician, Zen Multispecialty Hospital “In the last two weeks, due to the poor air quality and changing weather, upper respiratory tract infections have gone up. I see around 20% of the rise in patients visiting me with complaints of cough, sneezing, fever, chest tightness, breathlessness, running nose, and body pain. Also, whoever amongst them have gone for early morning walk suffered more as there are more dust particles in the air in the early morning. Avoid early morning walks; take steam as the pollutants tend to enter through the nostrils. Bronchitis, lung fibrosis and asthma patients can opt for an air purifier.”