While the third monsoon spell on Wednesday brought relief to most in the twin cities, the heightened humidity levels coupled with prolonged power outages gave a tough time to asthma patients.
As emergency and outpatient departments (OPD) began to fill with patients, hospitals found it difficult to provide inhalers and other required medicines.
According to an official, about 22 asthma patients were brought to the emergency ward of Holy Family Hospital (HFH) and 37 in the OPD; Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) admitted 17 in the emergency ward and 28 in the OPD; District Headquarter Hospital (DHQ) received 14 asthma patients in the emergency ward and 41 in the OPD.
On a routine day, each hospital gets no more than two to three such cases.
While talking to The Express Tribune sources in BBH said that since the hospital administration could not arrange inhalers and medicines, the patients had to purchase them from outside. In addition to syrups for children suffering from the disease, Salbutamol (a receptor used to provide relief to asthma patients) and steroid inhalers were also unavailable in the emergency ward.
A man who had brought his 10-month-old daughter from Dhok Kala Khan said, “I had to buy the asthma syrup from outside after [my daughter] had a severe asthma attack; the hospital did not have the medicine.” In his hurry to get his child to the hospital, he had forgotten to bring money with him, which further compounded his problem. Though he managed to get the medicine, the delay, in another situation, could have proven fatal.
Dr Sharif Astori, Polyclinic Hospital spokesperson told The Express Tribune that about 100 patients of asthma visited the hospital since late Wednesday night. He said the number of asthma and allergy patients usually increase during the monsoon season due to rising humidity levels.
Dr Asadullah Nemati, a senior chest physician at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) said the number of asthma patients in Pims OPD remained high since Wednesday night.
People should properly cover their nose and mouth with masks and keep away from dust, smoke, perfumes and talcum powders, the doctor added.
Also asthma patients should start using inhalers and medicines regularly before the rainy season commences. They should also increase water intake and immediately visit a doctor if they are having trouble breathing, Dr Nemati said.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2011.
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