AIIMS Doctor Reports 15-20% Rise in Worsening Respiratory Cases in Delhi

New Delhi: As Delhi struggles with escalating air pollution, a surge of patients with respiratory issues has been reported at the Pulmonology Department’s Outpatient Department (OPD) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, a doctor stated on Thursday.

Visuals displayed a large number of patients gathered at the AIIMS Pulmonology OPD seeking medical assistance for aggravated respiratory conditions.

Dr Karan Madan, Associate Professor in the Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at AIIMS, told ANI, "We are seeing that patients are having a lot of problems. Patients who have respiratory diseases like asthma, and COPD patients. We are seeing a lot more patients in the OPD now. Many patients have complained their asthma is getting worse."

He noted that numerous patients with severe symptoms had been admitted as well. "And many of our patients have come with severe exacerbation, what we call a severe worsening of symptoms. And many patients have required admission also. So I think it is a tough time for our patients who have respiratory problems..." he told ANI.

Dr Madan advised people with respiratory issues to stay indoors to minimize exposure to pollution. "We have seen approximately a 15 to 20 per cent increase in the number of patients who have come with worsening respiratory problems, patients who have pre-existing asthma, we are seeing a lot more patients with asthma exacerbation...Patients who have respiratory problems must avoid exposure to outdoor activity," he informed ANI.

For those wanting to exercise, he recommended doing so indoors to reduce exposure to air pollution. "If you want to exercise, better would be to exercise indoors so that your air pollution exposure is less. If you have asthma, take your inhalers regularly...," Dr Madan added.

(as per inputs from ANI)