ICU and respiratory wards overflow at Bir and Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospitals
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Falling temperatures and increasing air pollution have led to an increase in the number of patients with problems such as asthma and COPD in the respiratory wards of Bir Hospital and Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu.
All 24 beds in the respiratory ward at Bir are occupied. Doctors have said that the additional patients have had to be treated in other wards. They also said that the ICU is full.
‘All the beds available in the ICU are full. Similarly, the number of patients with respiratory infections has increased significantly in recent weeks,’ said Dr. Ashesh Dhunga, a pulmonologist and critical care physician at Bir Hospital, ‘Some patients have to be kept in the ICU. But we do not have enough beds to accommodate all the serious patients.’
Winter has intensified in Kathmandu. The minimum temperature on Wednesday was around 7 degrees Celsius. Air pollution is also considered a factor in the increase in respiratory problems. The air pollution level in Kathmandu has reached dangerous levels in the morning.
Dr. Dhungana said that more than 300 patients come to the OPD daily with respiratory problems. He said that the number of people coming for emergency treatment for this problem has also increased significantly.
The number of patients has also increased in the TU Teaching Hospital. ‘More than 300 patients have come to the OPD for treatment with respiratory problems,’ said Dr. Neeraj Bam, associate professor at the TU Institute of Medicine, ‘The number of people coming for emergency treatment has also increased.’
Doctors at both hospitals have said that there are no beds available in the ICU as per the current demand. Many people have already paid high prices for their patients to get treatment in private hospitals.
Because respiratory viruses are more active in cold weather, doctors have advised to be cautious as winter approaches. They said that the falling temperature and increasing pollution will have a negative impact on public health. They said that the virus that causes influenza is highly contagious and can spread very quickly in the community. It has been found to affect people with lung problems the most. They said that the virus can cause fever, cough, body aches and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. It can also cause pneumonia and can be fatal if not treated on time. Doctors have urged people to be vigilant as poor air quality can cause both short-term and long-term problems in public health. It can cause pneumonia, bronchitis, conjunctivitis, skin rashes, stroke, heart problems. In the long term, it can cause ulcers in the lungs and intestines, cancer, kidney disease and heart problems.
Doctors have said that timely diagnosis is necessary to prevent infection. They have warned that if timely diagnosis and treatment are not given, seasonal influenza can take a serious form and the number of deaths may increase.
They say that activities such as wearing masks, washing hands, avoiding crowds, and maintaining social distancing will help prevent the spread of the infection.
They have said that senior citizens and chronically ill people should be vaccinated against influenza and pneumonia.
