PUNE: Covid recovered have emerged the most vulnerable as cases of lingering cough (acute bronchitis) jump amid seasonal variation and rising vehicular pollution.
“About 40% of the total patients I am seeing in Pune, have acute bronchitis. And half of the patients with acute bronchitis have confirmed of testing positive for Covid-19 in the past. Lungs in Covid recovered patients continue to be sensitive to allergens and pollutants as they (lungs) had undergone some scarring during the Covid illness,” said physician Aniket Joshi, secretary of the Association of Physicians of India (API), Pune branch.
Ruby Hall Clinic’s physician Abhijit Lodha said, “Once the lungs are damaged in Covid, they become very susceptible to change in weather and atmospheric humidity being experienced these days.”
Besides seasonal variation, vehicular pollution is also adding to these cases, Lodha said, adding that quite a few patients diagnosed with acute bronchitis admitted to undertaking dusting and cleanliness at home/shops/offices ahead of the festive season.
Acute bronchitis starts with upper respiratory tract infection. The most at risk are individuals in the 25-50 years age bracket. “These patients test negative for Covid. Hence, most of them are not treated with antiviral but with antibiotics, inhaled steroid, nebulization and bronchodilator drugs. Some patients are given antivirals like oseltamivir if we suspect influenza-like illness,” Joshi said.
Oral steroids are also used to treat a section of patients with acute bronchitis. “We use oral steroids only when the inhaled steroid is found not to be working,” Joshi said.
