Dhaka is one of the cities with the highest air pollution in the world and during winter, pollution exacerbates due to dry weather and dust. With a sudden cold chill at the end of December, air pollution also rose resulting in respiratory ailments. Health department says that from November last year, the number of patients suffering from jaundice, diarrhea, breathing difficulties, skin diseases has risen.
Doctors have also said that people are suffering from bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia and diarrhea. The elderly and the young are at most risk.
As per health department, from Nov 1 till Jan 4 of the running year, 317,449 persons have been affected by a variety of ailments. Of the affected, 50,786 were affected by respiratory infection, 125,000 by diarrhea and the rest from other winter related sicknesses.
During this time, 61 persons died due to illness with 17 from respiratory complications, 4 from diarrhea and 30 from other ailments.
Assistant Director of Health Emergency Operation Centre and Control Room, Dr Ayesha Akhtar, said: “The number of patients rose due to a sudden cold spell; the air pollution doubles during winter as there is too much dust outside.”
Terming coughing and sneezing as contagious diseases, she added: “A coughing or sneezing person can infect someone from a one feet away and therefore, handkerchiefs need to be used all the time.”
Resident doctor of Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Dr. Rezwanul Ahsan, said: “The number of child patients rose during the cold spell and with the dissipation of the chill, the number has fallen.”