KARACHI, Nov 14: Winds from Quetta, that have brought a significant climatic change in Karachi, have caused spread of viral illness affecting human respiratory system. A large number of Karachiites have been suffering from the viral effects as the weather has turned dry with the level of humidity falling from 80 to as low as 30 per cent.

The Quetta winds have been seen contributing to the creation of dryness in mucus secretion from nose to lung.

Dr Afaq, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Karachi, says that mucus secretion has three important functions viz airconditioning of incoming air, trapping of foreign particles and detoxification of noxious agents. All these three functions, he says, spread common flu and pneumonia among children and aggravate asthma among its patients.

He pointed out that an increasing number of people complaining of running nose, cough and breathlessness had struck at different hospitals and clinics over the last few days.

He referred to the respiratory tract infections already identified as among the five top contributors in child mortality in the age group of five in Pakistan and said that certain preventive measures could help avert the risk of disease affecting children. Such measures, he added, could also contain the severity of the problem.

Enlisting the preventions, Dr Afaq mentioned that electric fans should not be used during night time and if inevitable, it should be kept slow. Similarly, he added, children should not be allowed to consume cold drinks, ice-creams, ice-lollies etc. and they must wear warm clothes outdoors especially in the morning.

Dr Afaq warned that children having developed respiratory tract infection must be taken extra care of. Parents should keep the patient’s nose clean and administer normal saline drops. Steam inhalation is very helpful in overall treatment, he indicated. He said that warm water and wet towels could be used to maintain the normal level of humidity in the patient’s room.—PPI