Summer showers trigger rise in cold, cough cases

By NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: S ummer showers, especially since the start of this month, have caused many people in the city to develop cold and coughing. Many of them get drenched in rain and later develop symptoms like running nose and cough.

Doctors confirmed that summer showers tend to make certain people ill. Dr Aditya S Chowti, senior consultant, internal medicine, Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road, said that it could be down to a number of reasons. “Basically, it is due to the change in temperature. Moreover, it is more seasonal and not just allergic. Those who have a predilection to respiratory illnesses like rhinitis and bronchitis may fall ill. It may also include non-specific viral infections as well,” he said.

He added that it was hard to pinpoint a single allergy that is responsible. “Allergens could be another reason. Pollens are a major cause of allergies in Bengaluru, but it is difficult to say that this is what is behind this (recent spate of illnesses),” Dr Chowti said.

Dr Jacob John, noted virologist and professor at Department of Community Health at Christian Medical College, Vellore said that change in climatic conditions often triggered allergies and infections. “It could be dust allergies and infections causing cold and coughing. Without tests, one can’t say exactly what it is,” he said.

Jabeen (59) said that she came down with severe cold and cough when summer showers first hit. She said that she tried treating it like a common cold and cough with gargling and steam inhalation, but it didn’t work, adding that it took two courses of antibiotics prescribed by a doctor in the family for her to get better. “It started after heavy rains. I went to the balcony to dry some (washed) clothes and immediately felt uncomfortable in the cold air. Then the itching in the throat began,” she said.

Thereafter her illness got worse and was treated like an infection. “I suffered from intense coughing and my chest felt heavy. I took Azithromycin for six days. When that didn’t work, I was prescribed Augmentin for another five. Now I feel better,” she added.

Corona scare
Dr Chowti conceded that some of those coughing could be infected by Covid. “There definitely is a chance that some of it is Covid. Although the intensity of the pandemic has come down, we are not out of it yet,” he said.

He added that Covid Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) was necessary in these times and advised people to wear masks and get double vaccinated and then boosted. Dr John said: “We ask people to wear masks for their own good. It is for them primarily and not the community.”