Rohit Shishodia   
The worsening air of Delhi is exacerbating Covid damage in people who had just recovered from the disease. People are coming to hospitals with worsening of Covid symptoms. Coronavirus has officially infected over 78 lakh and killed 117956 people across India.

The worsening of Covid damage in the so-called recovered includes poor lung capacity and lung fibrosis caused by the pathogen. Doctors have pointed out that toxic air or air pollution can impact the lungs of healthy individuals but it can severely worsen the condition of those who have recovered from Covid-19.

The doctors, however, point out that worsening of condition is not being found in people who had mild symptoms but in those who had moderate to severe Covid.

Dr Nikhil Modi, Senior Consultant, Department of Respiratory Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Apollo Hospital, Delhi, told DTMT that chronic weakness, bronchitis and fibrosis have been found in post Covid patients. Due to falling air quality, their symptoms have worsened.

“Mainly people are coming to hospital with worsening infection. Those who had suffered bronchitis and lung fibrosis due to Covid are coming with complaints of asthma, breathlessness and wheezing. Air pollution will be a factor for Covid recovered patients,” said Dr Modi.

“The condition of such patients can be managed by lung rehabilitation program by doing lung function test  and long term supportive medications. Under lung rehabilitation program, four components are focused which include diet, nutrition, lung exercise and psychotherapy,” explained Dr Modi.  

Dr Mahendran CS from Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis, Rajan Babu Institute of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis, Delhi, told DTMT that air pollution also impacts people who have healthy lungs.

“Covid impacts lungs but how long it will impact, it will take time to know. But those who had severe Covid will have lifelong problems of lungs. Minute particles of air pollution enter lungs and settle there. They enter the deepest part of the lung and impact breathing capacity,” he added.