Dirty air, cold weather expose children to health risks

Air pollution has been rising in Bangladesh over the past few days as temperatures continue to drop. This has led to more children suffering from coughs, colds, and respiratory illnesses. Hospitals and private clinics are reporting a surge in the number of child patients with these conditions.

Winter, according to the calendar, is yet to begin, but temperatures started dropping in early December. On Thursday, the mercury dipped to 14.8 degrees Celsius in Dhaka, while Gopalganj recorded the country's lowest temperature at 12.2 degrees Celsius. Dhaka's air quality also remained at an unhealthy level on Thursday night, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 220, according to data from the international air quality monitoring platform IQAir.

Pediatrician Prof Mohammad Shahidullah said, "The past month has been dry and mildly cold, and the lack of rain has left the air filled with dust particles. This has contributed to colds and coughs, especially among children."

On Thursday, Dhaka Shishu Hospital and Institute’s outpatient and emergency departments were swarming with child patients suffering from colds and coughs.

Nine-month-old Ayon Sarkar was brought to the hospital by his parents from Manikganj's Singair. "He has been suffering from a cold for the past few days. Nebulising helps for a while, but his condition worsens when the temperature drops. He coughs and has a rattling sound in his throat, so we decided to bring him here," said Ayon's father Mithun Sarkar.

Nayontara brought her 18-day-old son Ihan, who had been suffering from a severe cold and cough for the past two days. "Dhaka’s sudden drop in temperature may have caused this," said Nayontara, who lives in Mirpur's Shewrapara.

Mehnaz, the mother of one-month-old Ahnaf, said her son had been running a fever for the past two weeks. "The fever comes and goes, along with a cough. The medicine prescribed by a doctor reduced the cough, but the fever persists. That’s why I brought him here," she said.

According to Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute, 3,338 children were treated at the outpatient department between Nov 15 and Nov 30, with an average of 209 daily visits. From Dec 1 to Dec 11, 2,432 children visited, raising the daily average to 221.

Among these patients, hospital data shows that between Nov 15 and Dec 11, 4,294 children were treated for colds and coughs,1,086 for pneumonia, 390 for asthma, and 1,227 children for diarrhoea, with 201 admitted to the hospital.

"The number of children suffering from cold-related diseases has increased," said Dr Mahmudul Haque Chowdhury, a resident physician at the hospital. "Most of them have runny noses, and some have blocked noses. Many parents think their children are coughing, but often, it’s not an actual cough. Child patients are visiting both hospitals and private clinics in large numbers."

Dr Shahidullah, a child disease specialist, explained that children are experiencing two types of coughs—wet and dry. "Colds in children are often accompanied by fever and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea. While dengue cases have decreased, some children are still being diagnosed with it."

He advised parents to remain vigilant to protect children from winter illnesses. "The temperature fluctuates during the day, so children need to be dressed appropriately. Children sensitive to dust should avoid going outside, and everyone should wear a mask," he said. Wearing masks can help prevent dust-related colds. Children who frequently catch colds should also avoid crowded areas.

"Make sure children do not walk barefoot and use warm water for their baths. For children over a year old, ginger tea, lemon tea, or warm water with honey and basil leaves can help. Using natural remedies early can often prevent the need for medical intervention," Dr Shahidullah added.