Karachi Winter brings surge in respiratory, stroke cases

As the winter season sets in, major public hospitals in the metropolitan city have seen a visible spike in the number of patients being brought dead, particularly the elderly. The primary causes of these fatalities, according to doctors, are heart attacks and strokes, which have become more prevalent during the colder months.

Dr Imran Sarwar, Emergency In-charge at Civil Hospital, expressed concern over the alarming rise in viral infections during the seasonal change. "Emergency departments are now seeing an influx of patients suffering from cold, flu, cough, respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, and other related illnesses," he told The Express Tribune. "Patients with chronic respiratory conditions are arriving in critical condition, some requiring immediate hospitalisation."

Dr Sarwar said that compared to last year, the number of patients seeking emergency care has noticeably increased. He attributed this rise to a general lack of awareness and caution among the public. Stroke cases, which are also more common during winter, have seen an uptick. He advised people to avoid cold showers and instead consume warm foods like soups to help mitigate the risk of strokes.

According to Dr Sarwar, between 1,000 and 2,000 patients visit the emergency department daily, with around 10% of these being stroke patients. The majority of them are either elderly, bedridden, or suffering from uncontrolled diabetes.

Alarmingly, there has also been an increase in the number of elderly patients arriving at hospitals already deceased or passing away en route. Dr Sarwar added that flu patients, while recovering from initial symptoms, are continuing to experience prolonged coughing, sometimes lasting for over two months, raising concerns about underlying serious respiratory conditions.

Dr Sarwar further highlighted the dangers of incomplete treatment regimens, pointing out that many patients fail to finish their prescribed course of asthma medication or antibiotics. He cautioned against the overuse of antibiotics and the premature cessation of treatment, as this can lead to antibiotic resistance, complicating future treatments.

At Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Dr Irfan Siddiqui, Deputy Incharge of the Emergency Department, reported a sharp rise in cases of the "super flu" and chest infections following a recent drop in temperatures and rainfall. Since the onset of the cold snap, cases of cough, phlegm, and sore throat have surged by 15 to 20%. Dr Siddiqui explained that the super flu, a severe form of influenza, can affect the lungs and cause persistent symptoms that may last for up to a month.