Guwahati: Doctors at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) said OPDs recorded over a 10% rise in Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) and allergy cases linked to air pollution during the past week, and urged people to be careful while spending time outdoors.Health department officials said a similar trend was seen in district hospitals. With Holi approaching, doctors warned the problem could worsen, particularly if the state does not receive rain and chemical exposure from colours affects health.
At GMCH, about 20 to 30 patients visited the medicine, dermatology, ophthalmology and pulmonary medicine OPDs each day in recent days for ARI and allergy issues associated with air pollution, doctors said. “This 10 per cent increase in the last 1 week shows that people need to be cautious and should not roam outdoors unless necessary. Eye gear should be used and masks should be worn. In case of irritation and chest problems, doctors must be consulted without worrying,” said GMCH medical superintendent Dr Debajit Choudhury.Large parts of Assam experienced extended dry conditions due to a lack of rain for months. Along with dust blown from the Brahmaputra riverbed, construction linked to multiple bridges and housing projects added to dust pollution in the city.PM 10 and PM 2.5 remained key pollutants in Guwahati, where air quality was moderate on Saturday (24-hour average), according to Central Pollution Control Board Air Quality Index data.“Due to lack of rain, the density of oxides of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5) increased, and that is why ARI and allergic cases increased in hospitals across the state,” explained Dr Ramesh Bhatta, state consultant on National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health at National Health Mission-Assam.He said PM 10 and PM 2.5 in cities such as Guwahati can drive a rise in eye, ear and skin infections. “PM 2.5 can be deposited in the lung and these particles can impact the foetus,” he added.Doctors said those most at risk include children and infants below 1 year, older people, pregnant women, immunocompromised patients, and outdoor workers such as traffic police and municipal staff.“Construction increased particulate matter, especially, and that is why people need to be cautious wherever construction work is going on,” said Dr Bhatta.
