Respiratory tract infections on the rise

Islamabad

The respiratory tract infections particularly colds, flu and throat infections along with fever have started hitting population in this region of the country badly, mainly because of sudden fall in temperature at night till dawn.

Almost all public sector healthcare facilities in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi along with private clinics are receiving significant influx of patients with fever, sore throat and flu.

The allied hospitals in Rawalpindi have been receiving a much heavier influx of patients with dengue fever and another burden that the three teaching hospitals have started bearing is of patients suffering from upper respiratory tract infections that affect the nose, sinuses and throat generally.

The occurrence of complications in patients suffering from asthma is also being reported at the healthcare facilities in the region and according to health experts, it is time for chronic patients to take extra care to avoid RTIs and complications associated with these because the weather conditions are changing swiftly.

The upper RTIs and the lower respiratory tract infections that affect the airways and lungs may hit population in the region as an epidemic in the days to come if people do not take proper care at the time, said Deputy Director at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Dr. Wasim Ahmed Khawaja while talking to ‘The News’ on Sunday.

He added that not only the change in temperature but also high pollution level in the air is causing spread of various seasonal ailments along with complications for chronic patients of asthma. The RTIs are caused by viruses generally but can be caused by bacteria, he said.

Talking of prevention, he said the best way to prevent spread of respiratory tract infections is practising good hygiene such as washing hands with soap and warm water regularly.

He said the weather in the region is in transitional phase demanding people to take extra care and the major reason behind spread of RTIs is lack of awareness among public on how to avoid these.

He added that common cold and flu (influenza) which are very common infections of upper respiratory tract (nose, throat and sinuses) are caused by viruses. These viruses are sneezed and coughed by infected people into the air, he said.

These infections are highly contagious, passed by tiny droplets produced during sneezing, coughing of infected persons and touching things with hands and tissues that others touch, he said. He added the best way to prevent their spread is to practise good hygiene.

He added that smokers or those hanging around with people who smoke are more likely to catch more colds and throat infections and they can last longer. Smokers usually have more severe symptoms than non-smokers, he said.

Dr. Khawaja said the sudden fall in temperature at night demands warm clothing though majority of population have not started wearing warm clothes as yet. The change in weather conditions demand people to not to use cold drinks and ice cream but majority of population do not give much attention to the precautionary measures needed to avoid seasonal infections. One should drink plenty of clean water these days as it helps preventing seasonal ailments, he suggested.

It is important that children are more prone to get upper RTIs than adults because they have not built up immunity (resistance) to many viruses that can cause these infections. Children should be given plenty of hot fluids and should not be allowed to consume cold drinks and ice cream, said Dr. Khawaja.

He added that sudden exposure to cold must be avoided and if one has to stay outside home in open late at night, one must wear warm clothes as exposure to cold may cause multiple muscular and joint pains.