At 16°C, Gurgaon sees increase in respiratory illness

In the last two days, hospitals in Gurgaon have been seeing a sudden spike in cases of respiratory diseases caused by the dip in temperature. They have also been seeing a number of patients complaining of seasonal flu and viral infections.

In the last two days, hospitals in Gurgaon have been seeing a sudden spike in cases of respiratory diseases caused by the dip in temperature. They have also been seeing a number of patients complaining of seasonal flu and viral infections.

According to doctors in the city, the atmospheric temperature fluctuates between mid-October and mid-November, leading to an increase in patients coming in with seasonal flu and asthma-like symptoms. (HT File Photo)

Gurgaon recorded a minimum temperature of around 16 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

According to doctors in the city, the atmospheric temperature fluctuates between mid-October and mid-November, leading to an increase in patients coming in with seasonal flu and asthma-like symptoms.

“The high pollution levels in Delhi-NCR also affect the respiratory health of residents, especially of children. There has been a sudden increase in cases due to the changing weather conditions,” Dr Himanshu Garg, head of respiratory critical care at Artemis hospital, said.

According to hospitals, cases of respiratory illnesses increase by at least 20%-25% during the peak winter due to the smog that covers Gurgaon. “The extreme weather leads to more respiratory as well as latent cardiac problems which increase during December and January,” Dr DK Jhamb, director of cardiology at Rockland Hospital, said.

While vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria are declining, other viral and bacterial infections are expected to soar, doctors said. They suggest maintaining hygiene by washing hands and face regularly to avoid the spread of highly communicable infections.

“Change in season brings a host of diseases. Seasonal flu and viral infections increase as immunity is low. People must remain cautious and keep their surroundings clean. Maintaining hygiene is important,” Dr VK Thapar, district head of the integrated disease surveillance programme (IDSP), Gurgaon health department, said.

Hospitals in Gurgaon have also started taking necessary measures against the spread of swine flu after a 51-year-old woman died of the highly communicable disease in Delhi on Friday.

The district health department has issued an advisory to all private hospitals, asking them to immediately report all swine flu cases to the district civil surgeon. However, no cases of the disease have been reported so far in the district.