NEW DELHI: Air pollution can increase the transmissibility of the new coronavirus, making people more vulnerable to the disease and exacerbating the Covid-19 situation, experts said, while warning that those who have had the infection in the past may also have to face new challenges. .
With winters approaching and the coronavirus-induced lockdown easing, Delhi-NCR is bracing for months of poor air quality. The air quality of the national capital was in the ‘poor’ category on Sunday morning.
According to doctors, respiratory illnesses such as viral influenza increase with increased levels of pollution, as poor air quality causes inflammation in the lungs, making them more vulnerable to penetration of the virus.
“This year, we have Covid-19. Like the common cold, transmission of this virus is expected to increase with an increase in contamination levels. We may see a further increase in cases.”
“It would be an exhausting time for the testing centers, as they have to care for people with coronavirus and also non-covidual patients with similar symptoms,” Dr. Neeraj Nischal, associate professor in the AIIMS Department of Medicine, told PTI. Experts believe that those most affected would be people from the lowest socioeconomic class without access to masks and also vulnerable to additional risk factors such as chulla smoke.
“Apart from transmission, the presentation of Covid-19 as other viral respiratory diseases will be more severe in areas of high contamination. This will put a burden on hospitals as more patients become symptomatic and require admission,” said Dr. Nischal. According to Dr. Neeraj Gupta, professor in the Department of Pulmonary, Intensive Care and Sleep Medicine at Safdarjung Hospital, mortality has been linked to population density, proximity of people, and highly industrialized or urbanized areas that have higher levels. high pollution.
These factors are likely to become more effective during the festive season and winters, particularly in northern India, where stubble burning is common and seriously affects air quality, he said.
“Italy showed a possible link between PM 2.5 concentration and excess mortality to the extent that an increase of one unit is associated with a 9% increase in mortality from Covid-19,” said Dr. Gupta, and added that contamination can also help in the transmission of the novel. coronavirus.
During smog, particles remain suspended in the air near the earth’s surface for a longer period, making it conducive to transmission of the virus, he explained.
Dr. Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant for Internal Medicine at Apollo Hospitals, said: “We really don’t know how this virus will behave. But, we must prepare for the worst, as the level of contamination increases and winter approaches. It will be a dangerous combination. ”
He warned that people with respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and bronchitis, had a much higher risk of contracting the coronavirus infection.
“For people who have tested positive for Covid-19, it will be a double whammy as the contamination will make things worse,” he told PTI.
Doctors warn that even those who have had Covid-19 in the past are not out of the woods.
“Post-Covid fibrosis and immuno-paralysis make your lungs more susceptible to super aggregated bacterial pneumonia and other viral respiratory diseases. We urge everyone to get vaccinated with the influenza vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine to prevent additional infections in these times, “Dr. Nischal emphasized.
According to Dr. Gupta, with the increase in the Covid-19 survivor cohort, a significant number are seen to be symptomatic (43 percent with respiratory distress) even after two months.
These people are particularly vulnerable to air pollution, which is known to cause chronic irritation and inflammation of the airways, impairs mucus clearance, impairs immunity, and acutely precipitates airway disorders such as asthma, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis or even cancer-related conditions.
Dr Vivek Nangia, Senior Director and Chief of Pulmonology at Max Super Specialty Hospital in Saket Delhi, said that people belonging to high risk groups who are in extreme ages and suffering from chronic diseases are advised to stay in indoors or at least restrict your movement to essential outdoor activities.
“When outdoors, wear a mask at all times and stay away from firecrackers during Diwali. Keep your inhaler handy and see a doctor as soon as possible. Even for others, it is strongly recommended that you minimize your activities by outdoors and wear a weather mask, “he said.
“The number of cases will increase. There is a study that has been published by Harvard Medical School, USA, where they have shown that with each increase of 1 micron per meter in PM 2.5 particles, there is an increase of 8 per percent in mortality, “he said.
Dr Gupta said: “Indeed, difficult times are ahead for post-Covid patients.”
With winters approaching and the coronavirus-induced lockdown easing, Delhi-NCR is bracing for months of poor air quality. The air quality of the national capital was in the ‘poor’ category on Sunday morning.
According to doctors, respiratory illnesses such as viral influenza increase with increased levels of pollution, as poor air quality causes inflammation in the lungs, making them more vulnerable to penetration of the virus.
“This year, we have Covid-19. Like the common cold, transmission of this virus is expected to increase with an increase in contamination levels. We may see a further increase in cases.”
“It would be an exhausting time for the testing centers, as they have to care for people with coronavirus and also non-covidual patients with similar symptoms,” Dr. Neeraj Nischal, associate professor in the AIIMS Department of Medicine, told PTI. Experts believe that those most affected would be people from the lowest socioeconomic class without access to masks and also vulnerable to additional risk factors such as chulla smoke.
“Apart from transmission, the presentation of Covid-19 as other viral respiratory diseases will be more severe in areas of high contamination. This will put a burden on hospitals as more patients become symptomatic and require admission,” said Dr. Nischal. According to Dr. Neeraj Gupta, professor in the Department of Pulmonary, Intensive Care and Sleep Medicine at Safdarjung Hospital, mortality has been linked to population density, proximity of people, and highly industrialized or urbanized areas that have higher levels. high pollution.
These factors are likely to become more effective during the festive season and winters, particularly in northern India, where stubble burning is common and seriously affects air quality, he said.
“Italy showed a possible link between PM 2.5 concentration and excess mortality to the extent that an increase of one unit is associated with a 9% increase in mortality from Covid-19,” said Dr. Gupta, and added that contamination can also help in the transmission of the novel. coronavirus.
During smog, particles remain suspended in the air near the earth’s surface for a longer period, making it conducive to transmission of the virus, he explained.
Dr. Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant for Internal Medicine at Apollo Hospitals, said: “We really don’t know how this virus will behave. But, we must prepare for the worst, as the level of contamination increases and winter approaches. It will be a dangerous combination. ”
He warned that people with respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and bronchitis, had a much higher risk of contracting the coronavirus infection.
“For people who have tested positive for Covid-19, it will be a double whammy as the contamination will make things worse,” he told PTI.
Doctors warn that even those who have had Covid-19 in the past are not out of the woods.
“Post-Covid fibrosis and immuno-paralysis make your lungs more susceptible to super aggregated bacterial pneumonia and other viral respiratory diseases. We urge everyone to get vaccinated with the influenza vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine to prevent additional infections in these times, “Dr. Nischal emphasized.
According to Dr. Gupta, with the increase in the Covid-19 survivor cohort, a significant number are seen to be symptomatic (43 percent with respiratory distress) even after two months.
These people are particularly vulnerable to air pollution, which is known to cause chronic irritation and inflammation of the airways, impairs mucus clearance, impairs immunity, and acutely precipitates airway disorders such as asthma, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis or even cancer-related conditions.
Dr Vivek Nangia, Senior Director and Chief of Pulmonology at Max Super Specialty Hospital in Saket Delhi, said that people belonging to high risk groups who are in extreme ages and suffering from chronic diseases are advised to stay in indoors or at least restrict your movement to essential outdoor activities.
“When outdoors, wear a mask at all times and stay away from firecrackers during Diwali. Keep your inhaler handy and see a doctor as soon as possible. Even for others, it is strongly recommended that you minimize your activities by outdoors and wear a weather mask, “he said.
“The number of cases will increase. There is a study that has been published by Harvard Medical School, USA, where they have shown that with each increase of 1 micron per meter in PM 2.5 particles, there is an increase of 8 per percent in mortality, “he said.
Dr Gupta said: “Indeed, difficult times are ahead for post-Covid patients.”
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