HYDERABAD: Onset of winter, recurrent cough, and breathing trouble in the backdrop of covid19 is propelling queries related to respiratory disorders in most cities. With people increasingly consulting doctors online to ensure that no symptom goes undiagnosed, healthcare experts said there is a 20 to 25 percent increase in respiratory-related queries this month in Hyderabad when compared to the previous month.
“Most patient queries since the onset of winter are about breathing issues, dust allergy, asthma, respiratory problems, and dry cough. There is an increase in such queries because it is during this time when we move from monsoon to winter and the air we breathe begins to get more polluted. This happens due to various factors – since cold air is denser, particles remain suspended in it for a long period and remain on the surface,” said Rajesh Bhardwaj, ENT specialist, who consults on Practo. According to the experts, a large number of queries came from people in the 21 to 30 age group followed by people aged 60 and above.