Not so happy festival for asthmatics

Bengaluru: Bronchitis and asthma patients beware, Deepavali is here. With the city's air quality already poor, staying healthy this Deepavali would require extra caution and effort for people with respiratory ailments and diabetics.

Moreover the festival also brings in its wake a rise in cases of eye injuries. “Despite educating people every year about the need to safely burst firecrackers, the number of incidents of injuries relating to firecrackers is on the rise. Most of the eye injuries result in permanent loss of vision, while such injuries are largely preventable and avoidable.

Nearly 50 per cent of such victims are bystanders,” said Dr Arun Samprathi of Samprathi Eye Hospital and Squint Centre.

Dr Ravi, consultant, Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, said, “During Deepavali there are many emergency cases, with an average of 15-20 per day. A majority of the patients come in with commonly occurring ailments during this season i.e eye allergies, photoxicty and foreign body in the eye. There are also instances of severe cases where the entire eye/globe is damaged.”

Experts inform that pollutants that emerge from the firecrackers often remain suspended in the atmosphere for days. Breathing such toxic and fine particles can cause lung inflammation and asthma attacks.

“People suffering from bronchitis and asthma are advised to see their doctors and revise their prescription during the festival period.

“They should also stay away from places where the concentration of fumes from firecrackers is high. Using masks to cover the nose is also advisable as this can effectively prevent inhalation of smoke,” said Dr Hirennappa B Udnur, consultant, Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine and Critical Care.