Respiratory complaints among children spike as Delhi pollution worsens
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[November 17, 2021]
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Worsening air quality
in India's capital New Delhi has led to a spike in chronic respiratory
conditions such as asthma among children, and prolonged exposure to
deadly pollutants could impair their cognitive development, doctors
said.
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 Pollution has been hitting dangerous levels across New Delhi and
other parts of northern India this month.
On most days, the Air Quality Index (AQI) has stayed above 451 on a
scale of 500, indicating "very poor" and "severe" conditions that
affect even healthy people and seriously impact those with existing
diseases, according to the federal pollution control board's
guidance.
The AQI measures the concentration of poisonous particulate matter
PM2.5 in a cubic metre of air. The government prescribes a "safe"
PM2.5 reading at 60 micrograms per cubic meter of air over a period
of 24 hours.
A sharp increase in respiratory cases among children in the Indian
capital has raised concerns among doctors and parents.
The number of children with respiratory ailments has gone up
threefold in the past seven to 10 days, said Arvind Bountra, head of
paediatrics at Max Super Speciality Hospital.
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 "This is directly linked to
high levels of pollution that the city of Delhi
and NCR are witnessing..." Bountra said,
referring to the National Capital Region that
includes Delhi's satellite cities.
There's been a significant increase in the
number of cases with respiratory and bronchial
issues, said Praveen Khilnani, director of
Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital.
While most children get treated by the
outpatient department, some need oxygen and
intensive care, Khilnani added.
"My son couldn't sleep due to breathing
difficulties," said Anamika Gangwal, mother of a
three-and-a-half-year-old son.
Extended exposure to pollutants, including lead,
could lead to even more severe complications.
"There is some study that shows that the
cognitive functions of the brain (among kids)
are also affected by these very small
particles," said Bountra.
(Writing by Mayank Bhardwaj; Editing by Mike
Collett-White)
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