Air Pollution increases Pneumonia in children,Dr.Dev,M.D.,Pediatrician and Pediatric Pulmonologist,Rajendra Nagar Ghaziabad

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Air Pollution increases Pneumonia in children,Dr.Dev,M.D.,Pediatrician and Pediatric Pulmonologist,Rajendra Nagar Ghaziabad

Pediatrician and Pediatric Pulmonologist Dr.Dev Kumar Jha,Formerly at AIIMS,New Delhi - 19 Nov, 2021 - Parents’ Guide,Professionals Guide, - 1 Comment

In the period of October-November 2021 ,there is high level of air pollution in Delhi and NCR.
Air pollutants contain particulate matters of different sizes.
Pollutants containing sizes PM2.5 and PM10 are very dangerous.
These pollutants of size pm2.5 and pm10 can enter the respiratory tract of children.
PM 2.5 can easily enter the alveoli and damages it.
High pm2.5 was defined as pm2.5 level more than 10.75 mcg/cubic meter.
In one study published online on 29.10.2021 in Experimental biology and Medicine,out 810 children,220 were included in study and they were divided into two groups,one with high risk group for community acquired pneumonia(126 children) and second group with low risk for community acquired pneumonia(94).Pneumonia was defined by radiographic evidence of opacity consistent with pneumonia.
It was observrd that more cases of pneumonia were diagnosed from the area with high pm2.5 as compared to low pm2.5
The mean level of pm2.5 was 10.75mcg per cubic meter during study period which is lower than the high level set by U.S.Environmental protection agency .
According to the reports by SAFAR(System of air quality forecast and resaearch) Delhi,NCR,the highest level of pollutants including pm2.5,pm10,ovc,so2,co,nitric oxide are being seen in Delhi NCR air between midnight and 10 am in the morning as on 19.11.2021.Air quality index is in very poor category in Delhi,NCR as on 19.11.2021
So, air pollution is a risk factor for pneumonia in children

REFERENCES;1.. Mehta S, Shin H, Burnett R, North T, Cohen AJ. Ambient particulate air
pollution and acute lower respiratory infections: a systematic review
and implications for estimating the global burden of disease. Air Qual
Atmos Health 2013;6:69–83

2. Ostro B, Roth L, Malig B, Marty M. The effects of fine particle components on respiratory hospital admissions in children. Environ Health
Perspect 2009;117:475–80

CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019,(COVID 19),Dr.Dev,Pediatric Pulmonologist,Sahibabad,UP,NCR-Delhi

Pediatrician and Pediatric Pulmonologist Dr.Dev Kumar Jha,Formerly at AIIMS,New Delhi - 21 Mar, 2020 - Professionals Guide,Uncategorized, - 0 Comment

Corona virus is a novel virus,known as severe acute respiratory syndrome virus-2(SARS CoV-2).It was first identified in the Wuhan city of china in 2019,so the disease is termed as COVID 2019.From China ,it has travelled to every part of world making human as a vehicle.It has killed many people world wide.

In 80% of infected people it causes mild disturbances and may go unnoticed.In about 12 % of cases ,infected persons become severe enough to be admitted in hospital and in about 6% cases ,the infected persons need ICU care.Mortality due to this disease is about 2%.
ROUTE OF ENTRANCE INTO THE BODY: It enters into the body through nose ,when an infected person coughs in the near vicinity of an individual.The virus may survive in air,on the surfaces and fomites for a variable period.It also comes in saliva in contrast to common cold virus.So,it may be inhaled from these sites.
The incubation period is 8-37 days,with an average 14 days.An infected person can shed virus for a minimum of 8 days to a maximum of 37 days.
The virus mainly damages the respiratory epithelium and alveoli of lungs causing pneumonia.
CLINICAL FEATURES;Symptoms are cough,sore throat,difficulty in breathing,headache,bodyache,wekness,confusion,dizziness and in some cases,loose motion and vomiting
LABORATORY FINDINGS;Commonb findings on CBC are,leukopenia,lymphopenia and leukocytosis.Other abnormalities are neutrophilia,thrombocytopenia and anemia.
In severe cases,there may be raised D-dimer and prolonged prthrombin time.
IMAGING;Chest X-Ray shows bilateral lung infiltrates in 75% of cases and unilateral lung infiltrates in 25% of cases.
Confirmation of diagnosis; RT-PCR of lower respiratory tract specimen(sputum,tracheal aspirate,BAL fluid) confirms the diagnosis.Sensitivity of upper respiratory tract specimen(throat swab,nasal swab,nasopharyngeal swab )is low.
HIGH RISK OF MORTALITY:Older age,high SOFA score(sequential organ function assessment) and serum level of D-Dimer > 1mcg/ml are the contion with very high mortality.
TREATMENT;There is no definite treatment as of now.Some antivirals have been tried like oseltamavir,ritonavir and lopinavir with variable results.Hydroxychloroquine has also been tried.
PREVENTION;Prevention is the only cure.Maintain respiratory etiquette,avoid crowded places,and maintain a distance of at least 1 meter(3 feets)

REFERENCES: 1.BMJ Best practice COVID 19
2.Lancet.doi:10.1016/SO140-6736(20)30566-3

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