Lahore is witnessing an alarming rise in pneumonia cases

LAHORE: There has been an alarming rise in pneumonia cases in Lahore as emergency wards and out-patient departments (OPDs) in hospitals have been crowded with patients.

Patients with chronic conditions and children also fell victim to respiratory diseases due to weak immunity with the advent of winter.

Punjab Public Health Reference Laboratory chief Dr Husnain Javed said cases of viral and bacterial pneumonia have been on the rise in the provincial capital due to smog, dryness and cold weather.

He pointed out that people with weak immunity due to chronic heart, kidney and liver diseases or diabetes could easily contract the respiratory disease in cold weather.

He said the main cause of the increased cases was undiagnosed flu and COVID-19 cases. Dr Javed urged citizens to immediately consult doctors and get treatment after breathing problems.

He added, not only in Pakistan, cases of influenza and COVID-19 are also increasing all over the world after the arrival of winter season which was the mutation of pneumonia.

Caretaker Minister of Primary and Secondary Health and Population Welfare, Dr. Jamal Nasir said Geo News that smog was an additional factor in the increased respiratory ailments. He confirmed that the number of pneumonia cases was higher than the previous year.

Health experts also warned of a sharp rise in pneumonia cases among the elderly and children. They suggested plenty of rest, hot drinks, steam baths or using a humidifier in homes to moisten the air, and early consultations with doctors.

Pakistan is among the 13 countries worldwide where pneumonia spreads every year