Pneumonia and ARDS – more fatal forms of infections may hit population severely

Rawalpindi : Apart from seasonal flu, serious respiratory tract infections including pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have started hitting the population in this region of the country after a change in weather conditions.

In dry and cold weather conditions like the existing one, the atmosphere is filled with pollutants including dust and toxins and studies reveal that breathing in harmful substances including dense smoke and chemical fumes triggers ARDS. Pneumonia and ARDS which are more fatal forms of respiratory tract infections claim a good number of lives every year in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi and according to health experts, it is so because the majority of our population do not take preventive measures well in time to avoid these infections.

It is worth mentioning here that only in public sector hospitals of the twin cities, the ARDS claims well over 100 lives every year mainly from October to December. Both the public and private sector healthcare facilities in the region have started receiving patients with pneumonia and ARDS and the respiratory tract infections may take the shape of an outbreak in the days to come.

According to estimates, well over 100 patients with serious complications of respiratory tract infections are reaching public sector hospitals per week of which 20 to 30 per cent need ventilators. The number of cases with lower respiratory tract infections is on the rise. Experts say that the patients with cough, fever, lethargy and thick viscid sputum for over three days should undergo a chest X RAY to avoid complications of the infection.

The most fatal and dangerous complication of pneumonia is ARDS, a condition that develops rapidly in which a patient with chest infection cannot maintain oxygenation level due to lungs’ dysfunction. The accumulation of fluid and secretions in airspaces impair the transfer of oxygen to blood. Most of the patients of ARDS reported every year at the time of the onset of winter are the ones having flu, pneumonia, chest infections and other such ailments.

Experts say that an outbreak of flu is expected due to smog in the air and cold weather. Studies reveal that the ARDS patient has severe air hunger and suffocation that abruptly starts within a few hours and progresses rapidly. Both lungs are filled with fluid that clogs the airways drowning patients in their own secretions. The only way out is a high index of suspicion, early diagnosis and immediate treatment in an ICU.

Studies reveal that the ARDS patient needs ICU care for at least four weeks afterwards recovery starts and complete cure takes three to six months generally. Data shows that mortality after developing ARDS ranges from 90 to 100 per cent in non-ventilated patients in Pakistan.

The cause of death in the majority of cases is late presentation to the ICU while the majority of patients who die of the ARDS are those suffering from asthma, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and diabetes along with critical complications.

There are many other causes of ARDS like severe infections, sepsis, pancreatitis, burns etc but respiratory infections are the most common in winter. Individuals should get flu vaccination and those with pre existing lung diseases like asthma and COPD should get pneumonia vaccination as well.