Windows shut, floors mopped twice, residents battle allergic cough, asthma

Pune: Allergic coughs, seasonal asthma and skin allergies are on the rise in Pune as dust from citywide construction mixes with post-monsoon pollution. Construction activity and vehicular emissions contribute to particulate pollution, particularly during dry spells when dust is easily resuspended, medical experts said. Pune’s AQI was around 130 on Monday and 125 on Tuesday, with air quality categorised as moderate on both days, according to CPCB.Dr Danish Memon, head of internal medicine at Noble Hospital, said the hospital was seeing more respiratory cases. “While many patients can be treated with OPD medication, there are some severe cases that need bronchodilators. This is mainly due to the Oct heat and post-monsoon pollution.”Children under five are also developing allergic colds and eye infections due to dust and dryness. A paediatrician in Wanowrie said young children were particularly vulnerable because their immune systems were still developing, with many cases taking longer to resolve.Dr Rahul Kendre, chief lung transplant physician and transplant & interventional pulmonologist at DY Patil Hospital, said, “I would say that asthma, bronchitis, and overall respiratory cases are more than last year. We are also seeing many paediatric cases. Most cases from Kharadi are dust-related owing to the construction in the area.”Influenza or flu-related cases are also doing the rounds. “These seem to be like seasonal viral cases. We are seeing a lot of patients with cough, cold, sore throats as well,” said Dr Abhijit Lodha, internal medicine physician at Mirayee, Balewadi.Residents are changing their routines to limit exposure and keep homes clean. Many are keeping windows and balconies shut and mopping floors several times daily as dust quickly settles on furniture, window sills and floors.Some households are using vacuum cleaners, air purifiers and masks, replacing filters and installing window grilles to trap dust. Families with young children and elderly members are taking additional precautions.“My whole family was down with cough and cold last week and we had to get an inhaler for my grandmother because she was getting breathless. Air quality has worsened over the last few weeks,” Undri resident Sakshi Jain said.Hadapsar resident Sailesh Mehta said his father recently developed bronchitis amid extensive construction activity in the neighbourhood. “We have to keep windows shut to prevent dust from coming in,” he said.Bavdhan resident Manish Kulkarni said his family had bought an air purifier for the upcoming winter months. “We have two senior citizens at home who are above the age of 90. We cannot risk them getting sick,” he said.