Increase in the number of people with respiratory cases in public hospitals
In the eyes of the President of the pediatric Association, the children reported at government facility hospitals in Karachi should routinely range from 80-90, each of them with a different kind of respiratory illness. There are also sore throat and chest infections that are pretty alarming and discomforting but very short and can result in chronic diseases. One of the most disturbing consequences of these diseases is the increasing prevalence of asthma among children, which severely downgrade their overall health status.
It exposes children to the risks of environmental pollution, most prominently demonstrated by children with respiratory complications, which form the majority of the patients who walk to most of the healthcare facilities. Children’s lungs and immune systems are not fully developed as they grow up. Therefore, exposure to environmental pollution also makes them susceptible to various infections and chronic diseases like asthma.
Recent months have produced a two-fold increase in the statistics of respiratory diseases.
The situation in Karachi has worsened considerably in the past few months. The President of the Pediatric Association provided evidence supporting the claim that respiratory diseases in the city have doubled compared to the previous year. The increase is due to high pollution levels, factory emissions, motor vehicle smoke, and dust particles. Such irritants in the atmosphere cause problems in the respiratory tracts of most people, especially those with other illnesses.
This change in the air quality especially favors children, but even the adult population is witnessing a rise in respiratory ailments. The remarkable surge of patients has led the hospitals, where the medical personnel are trying to resolve the problem of patients and the increasing epidemic issues as fast as they can, to panic.
The Precautionary Measures Should Be Understood First
Public health professionals are calling for everybody to act now to combat their polluted air and the adverse effects that come with it. Experts suggest that the general public wear masks in pollution-prone areas and limit outdoor activities on days when the air quality is worse than usual.
The President of the Pediatric Association also warned that respiratory diseases could severely impact Karachi’s health in the future if people do not take action. The abuse of the said technology would most probably affect the long-term health effect of the populations residing in the city, whereby the prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases would increase, and one would be on medication throughout their life.
Karachi is not immune to the air pollution crisis, and many respiratory diseases emerge, including those of children. We must immediately reverse the situation as the public health threat spreads. If people become aware of this and take precautions, the city can lower their exposure to health hazards related to bad air quality.
