Wednesday, 06 November 2024
Wednesday, 06 November 2024
Children in Kolkata are facing a rise in lung infections, mainly due to viral causes, doctors and parents say.
A number of doctors across the city confirm seeing a significant increase in cases, with many children showing signs of serious respiratory issues like fever, cough and even breathing difficulties.
This surge, they say, is mainly attributed to viruses like RSV that commonly spread in crowded environments and are easily transmitted through droplets.
“I have treated more than 100 patients suffering from this in the last month,” Dr Ruchi Golash, a senior consultant at CMRI Hospital, told The Telegraph Online.
“Not everybody is getting the real diagnostic biofire test done due to its expensive cost. This test costs around Rs 17,000-20,000 rupees and 75 per cent of my patients had got it done. It is a multi-array test which gives one the name of the virus. Every patient has been RSV positive.
“From kids as young as 5 years to older age groups of toddlers majority of them were RSV positive which they picked from the school, they met their cousins during festivities and it spread. Children under one year old have needed hospitalisation big time. It is an epidemic, due to lack of testing one never knows the real number,” she said.
“The youngest patient I have is one month old who lives in a joint family, who got it from her cousins who are also older kids. She did not catch a fever but caught a very bad cough, had severe breathlessness that she needed nebuliser and IV magnesium sulphate to help her breathe. For children falling in the age group of 10 to 12 years it is not that bad, as I am largely treating them on OPD basis and not hospital admission,” she added.
Dr. Nicola Flynn, head of the Department of Perinatal Medicine & Neonatology at Medica Superspecialty Hospital, agreed.
“There is an outbreak of RSV type A and Type B and our ICUs are filled,” Flynn told The Telegraph Online “More than 80 patients I have treated in the last month right from the newborns up to 16 years old. My youngest patient was 20 days old. The one-month-old baby I treated had to be put on a ventilator with severe respiratory distress. The baby is still on a ventilator with severe lung disease. In older children, parents are also sending their children to school as soon as they are recovering or when they are half recovered. Children need at least one week’s rest after stopping treatment.”
The impact of air pollution on children’s health is particularly concerning for the doctors as the city’s air quality deteriorates.
Kolkata’s air quality has been deteriorating rapidly, with three monitoring stations: Bidhannagar, Fort William, and Jadavpur, recording a shift from “satisfactory” levels to “poor” in just three days. Ballygunge, another monitoring location, recorded the most severe decline, moving from “good” on October 31 to “very poor” on November 2, as reported earlier by The Telegraph.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, “very poor” air quality can lead to respiratory illnesses with prolonged exposure, while “poor” air causes breathing issues for most people. The worsening air quality weakens the body’s defences, making Kolkata’s residents more vulnerable to respiratory issues.
Dr. Pavitra Chakravarty from Bhagirathi Neotia Women and Children’s Hospital said: “Polluted air, especially with particulate matter from vehicle exhaust and construction dust, can damage children’s lungs, which are still developing. Pollution is directly linked to respiratory infections, making kids more susceptible to viruses and bacteria. There has been a definite increase in respiratory diseases in the current time caused mainly by viruses like adenovirus , rhino-virus and bacteria recently affecting mainly toddlers and preschool children from 2 to 4 years olds. Persistent cough, generalised tiredness and lethargy with high fever and rigour or shivering with increase in respiratory distress suggests a serious chest condition like pneumonia.”
In some cases, Chakravarty said, the child may have persistent cough for more than a few days with high fever and rigour which may be due to pneumonia or bronchitis.
“Parents can help prevent respiratory diseases in children by taking precautions like ensuring children wear masks during seasonal changes on the way to school or when travelling through congested areas,” he said.
Dr Ruchi Golash said: "Currently RSV bronchiolitis outbreak is there in children. Droplet spread is the mode of transmission. Increase in air pollution levels is the background insult to the respiratory tree. Parents should be vigilant about early signs like fever with cough and cold, as these can quickly escalate to breathing trouble. If children appear unwell, they should see a doctor immediately. It’s also wise to keep younger children away from older, sick siblings and avoid exposing them to polluted air.”
One type of infection causing concern is LRTI (Lower Respiratory Tract Infection), which affects the lungs and lower airways. Unlike mild infections, LRTI can lead to severe breathing issues and often requires medical attention.
Dr Ashok Mittal, senior consultant, Pediatrics and Neonatology, Fortis Hospital, Kolkata, told The Telegraph Online about the need for parents to look out for persistent fever, cough, and breathing difficulty.
“LRTI in children has always been a leading cause of office visits, admissions and unfortunately death among children of all ages, especially less than 5 years of age. Early medical attention can prevent complications. I also recommend flu shots to protect against some infections, though unfortunately, vaccines are limited against many viruses. Recently there is rising concern over increasing cases of Mycoplasma pneumonia (also known as walking pneumonia), as well as viral pneumonia like flu, RSV, adenovirus,” Mittal said.
“Parents must watch out for any fever lasting for over 48-72 hours, with a predominant cough associated with breathing difficulties soon after which they must visit their doctor immediately. I also strongly suggest not to buy medicines on the advice of the medicine shop owner,” he added.
Dr Pavitra Chakravarty explained how air pollution affects children.
“The respiratory systems and immune systems in children are not fully developed, hence they are more at risk of damage and disease from air pollution. Vehicle exhaust fumes with Nitrogen oxides and particulate matter (PM2 and PM10), dust from construction sites composed of silica and other particles, industrial wastes like sulphur dioxide and volatile organic matter are leading causes,” he said.
Prevention remains key. Doctors advise keeping children away from crowded places, especially if other kids are sick.
They also suggest maintaining good ventilation and taking extra care during seasonal changes when viral infections tend to peak.
