Respiratory tract infections on the rise
 

ISLAMABAD: The incidence of respiratory tract infections particularly colds, flu and throat infections along with fever is continuously on the rise and population in this region of the country is being hit badly by the RTIs mainly because of fall in temperature.After the setting in of winter and sharp fall in temperature particularly at night till dawn, almost all public sector healthcare facilities in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi along with private clinics are receiving significant influx of patients with fever, sore throat and flu.
The allied hospitals in Rawalpindi have been receiving a significant influx of patients with upper respiratory tract infections that affect the nose, sinuses and throat generally while a good number of patients with pneumonia is also being reported. Chronic patients of asthma have been facing complications mainly because of carelessness according to health experts and it is believed that it is time for chronic patients to take extra care to avoid RTIs and complications associated with these because the weather conditions are changing swiftly.
Health experts say that the upper RTIs and the lower respiratory tract infections that affect the airways and lungs may hit population in the region more severely in the days to come if people do not take proper care at the time. People need to take extra care as the weather in the region is in transitional phase and the major reason behind spread of RTIs is lack of awareness among public on how to avoid seasonal ailments which may cause critical conditions among infants and elderly people, said Deputy Director at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Dr. Wasim Ahmed Khawaja while talking to ?The News?.
He said the best way to prevent spread of respiratory tract infections is practising good hygiene such as washing hands with soap and warm water regularly. It is important that the RTIs are caused by viruses generally but can be caused by bacteria.
Common cold and flu (influenza) which are very common infections of upper respiratory tract (nose, throat and sinuses) are caused by viruses. These viruses are sneezed and coughed by infected people into the air, said Dr. Khawaja. These infections are highly contagious, passed by tiny droplets produced during sneezing, coughing of infected persons and touching things with hands and tissues that others touch, he said. He added the best way to prevent their spread is to practise good hygiene. He added that smokers or those hanging around with people who smoke are more likely to catch more colds and throat infections and they can last longer. Smokers usually have more severe symptoms than non-smokers, he said.
Dr. Khawaja said that the weather conditions have changed and people should not use cold drinks and ice cream but majority of population do not give due attention to the precautionary measures needed to avoid seasonal infections. People should drink plenty of clean water these days as it helps preventing seasonal ailments, he suggested. It is important that children are more prone to get both upper and lower respiratory tract infections than adults because they have not built up immunity (resistance) to many viruses that can cause these infections. Experts say that children should be given plenty of hot fluids and should not be allowed to consume cold drinks and ice cream. Dr. Khawaja said that to avoid health threats associated with cold weather conditions, one must avoid sudden exposure to cold and one must wear proper warm clothes if staying outside home in open late at night. Apart from other complications, exposure to cold may cause multiple muscular and joint pains, he said.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/com/cwEr/~4/7eTsvWXH7e8

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