Dr Javad Ahmed, who specialises in ear, nose and throat infections, said that Capital Development Authority Hospital received about 100 patients daily. Of these, three in every five suffer from seasonal infections — upper respiratory tract infection, pneumonia or bronchitis.
Dr Haroon Rasheed, the deputy medical superintendent at Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi, said about half of the 800 patients visiting the hospital’s emergency wards daily were suffering from seasonal infections.
Children are more prone to respiratory diseases. The paediatric department at Policlinic Hospital in Islamabad receives about 300 children daily suffering from some form of a seasonal infection, according to Dr Naeem Zafar, the head of the department.
The story is much the same at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. The outdoor patient department at the hospital daily receives more than 300 patients suffering from seasonal infections, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Precautions
There are measures that people can take to protect against seasonal diseases.
Dr Ahmed said that people should take a balanced diet consisting of eggs, milk, fish, broth and citrus fruits such as oranges.
“We advise our patients to keep warm and include a glass of milk, egg and broth in their regular diet,” said Dr Ahmed.
But it is not always possible. A good portion of the patients coming to Dr Ahmed belong to the under-privileged class, who find it very hard, if not altogether impossible, to find means to include protein and vitamin-rich foods in their diets.
Dr Zafar from Polyclinic Hospital said, “They live in small congested homes and sleep together in one room on cold floors. [It is very easy for them to] catch cold from each other.”
Health experts also advise people travelling on motorbikes and cycles to wear windbreakers to protect against the cold wind.
Similarly people should be wary of extreme fluctuations in temperature, such as stepping outside from a warm room. A while before they go out, people should turn off room heaters so that difference between the temperatures inside and outside lowers enough to be within acceptable limits.
No rain also means more dust, which increases the chances of getting infections, according to doctors. Most health experts interviewed were of the view that the first rainfall in the twin cities will drastically reduce the number of patients suffering from seasonal infections.
However with dry weather forecasted throughout next week by Pakistan Meteorological Department, the number of people suffering from seasonal infections is not likely to go down any time soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 15th, 2010.
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