Listen to Story There is a rise in hospital admissions of pneumonia cases, mostly related to high AQI (air quality index). Delhi and the neighbouring regions has been experiencing severe levels of air pollution resulting in increasing cases of breathing issues. According to Dr Vikas Mittal, Pulmonologist, CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, there is an "unusual rise in emergency admissions, even among younger patients, primarily due to respiratory issues like pneumonia.
" Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. It causes these sacs to fill with fluid or pus, leading to symptoms like coughing, fever, and difficulty breathing. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi, and can range from mild to severe, especially in young children, older adults, and those with weak immune systems.
Dr Mittal said that most patients are experiencing "walking pneumonia" or atypical pneumonia, where X-rays show fluid-filled air sacs in the lungs but the patients aren't severely ill. "We're also observing an increase in 'silent' pneumonia cases, where patients have to be admitted in ICU (intensive care unit) for severe chest infections. Many people are experiencing upper respiratory symptoms, such as itchy eyes, nose, and throat, without a fever," Dr Mittal told IndiaToday.
in. While it's unclear if pollution is the primary cause, it's unusual to see this many pneumonia cases at this time of year, added Dr Mittal. While air pollution is known to have a severe impact on .