Rise in respiratory infection cases in city

Doctors are seeing more cases of upper respiratory tract infections this year and the occurrence is prolonged, according to a city-based doctor.

Dr H Paramesh, director, Lake View Hospital said that the number of cases of upper respiratory tract infections has gone up. He was speaking at the Climate and Environment Science quiz in the city on Tuesday.

"The main reason is viral infection. In Bengaluru, 65% of such cases would generally come from July end to October. During Diwali, it peaks. This year, we have seen a good number of cases since June and it has prolonged," he added.

Speaking about ill effects of pollution, he said children coming from schools that are located at a high traffic density area are at a risk of developing respiratory ailments and even those from the economically weaker sections, he said, could be at risk due to indoor particulate matter pollution.

He said the traffic police, who spend 10-12 hours on the roads are also more prone to asthma, chronic cough and shortness of breath. He said traffic moving at 10 km/hr produces six times more carbon monoxide than vehicles travelling at 75 km per hour.