Air pollution in Ahmedabad is posing a serious threat to the health of infants and toddlers. Children under the age of six, according to the report.
The effect of PM 2.5 is greater in children under the age of six years than in adults, according to a study based on data collected from a public hospital by researchers from AMC Medical Education Trust Medical College and LG hospital, in collaboration with IIPH Gandhinagar, the School of Physiotherapy at Delhi University, and the Public Health Foundation of India, Gurugram.
PM 2.5 is a type of minuscule particulate matter particle present in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns. These particles mixed with inhaled air when reach the lungs, leave adverse effect on them including permanent damage, difficulty in breathing.
According to the study conducted by the researchers, out of all the children below the age of six years admitted in the hospital, 21 percent came in with the complaint of respiratory disorders and air pollution infections.
According to reports, over 12,600 children were admitted to government hospitals, with 2,682 of them diagnosed with the effects of air pollution on their respiratory system.
Prolonged exposure to PM 2.5 can also result in disorders such as pneumonia, empyema, and fever, as well as malaise, headache, nausea, sore throat, hoarseness, rhinitis, and throat congestion.
Other causes of wheezing include bronchitis, asthma, fever, cough, dyspnea, and others.