Bhopal: Changing weather patterns in the city are causing a surge in respiratory illnesses, including a persistent cough and viral infections, accompanied by a rise in bronchitis cases.
Over the few weeks, OPD patients who sought treatment at JP Hospital, Hamidia Hospital, and AIIMS Bhopal almost half of these cases were diagnosed as seasonal illnesses.
Significant temperature variations between day and night are impacting public health, experts said on the matter.
Beyond typical viral infections, patients are experiencing post-viral bronchitis, characterized by lung allergies lasting two to three weeks after fever subsides. According to experts a noted an increase in patients presenting with fever, sore throat and general viral symptoms.
Most have symptoms bronchitis allergy. Dry cough is starting due to viral, which is not getting cured for two or more weeks. In some patients standard treatments are proving less effective, often requiring higher doses and combinations of medication, according to experts.
JP hospital superintendent and civil surgeon, Dr Rakesh Shrivastava, attributes the increase in respiratory illnesses to common respiratory viruses, influenza, and the syncytial virus, exacerbated by fluctuating temperatures.
“This is happening due to constant change in temperature. There is a problem of cough for a long time, pneumonia is rare in such cases. Many patients do not even have fever but normal viral turns into allergic bronchitis,” Shrivastava said.
Experts are advising patients with preexisting conditions like allergies, asthma, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, or a history of lung disease to take extra precautions and undergo regular lung check-ups.
