The alarming health consequences of Delhi-NCR's deteriorating air quality have manifested in a heartbreaking case involving a five-year-old boy who required surgical intervention due to pollution-induced complications. The child's family relocated to Noida just two years ago, only to watch his health steadily decline in the polluted environment.
From Healthy to Hospitalized: A Family's Pollution Nightmare
Sakshi Pahwa, residing in Noida's Sector 143, watched helplessly as her young son developed chronic allergies, persistent nasal blockage, swollen tonsils, and severe breathing difficulties shortly after their move from Sirsa. Despite seeking various medical treatments, his condition continued to deteriorate in Noida's polluted atmosphere.
The child's father, Sachin Kamboj, recounted their distressing experience to Times of India: "We moved from Sirsa to Noida two years ago, and soon after, my son began suffering persistent coughs and colds. At first, we thought it was just seasonal flu, but his condition steadily worsened. Continuous allergies, dust and pollution made it difficult for him to breathe."
The family exhausted both homeopathic and allopathic treatments without success, ultimately facing the unavoidable reality that surgery was necessary to restore their son's ability to breathe properly.
Medical Emergency: When Pollution Demands Surgical Intervention
Medical professionals determined that persistent exposure to polluted air and other allergens had triggered significant enlargement of the child's adenoids and tonsils. The situation became so critical that doctors at a private hospital in Gurgaon performed an adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy with turbinate reduction last week.
According to the discharge summary, the young patient suffered from severe breathing difficulties caused by enlarged adenoids and tonsils, coupled with turbinate hypertrophy - swelling inside the nose. This combination resulted in completely blocked nasal passages, making nasal breathing nearly impossible.
The obstruction manifested through concerning symptoms including:
- Heavy snoring during sleep
- Significant pain and discomfort while swallowing
- Struggling for air, particularly during nighttime hours
- Complete nasal blockage
Dr. Shashidhar, the treating physician, highlighted a crucial observation: "During the Covid lockdown, cases of such inflammations nearly disappeared. However, they have surged again recently, suggesting that pollution may play a significant role in triggering respiratory issues like adenoid and tonsil inflammation."
Doctors Sound Alarm on Pollution-Health Crisis
Medical professionals across Delhi-NCR are reporting a dramatic increase in pollution-related health cases, particularly affecting children and young adults. The statistics paint a worrying picture of the region's public health crisis.
Dr. Vijay Arora, principal director and head at Yashoda Medicity in Indirapuram, confirmed the alarming trend: "Over the past few months, we have seen a 20-30% increase in allergy and sinus cases. Erratic weather, prolonged viral infections, and consistently high pollution levels are the main contributors."
Dr. Arora further noted that on an average OPD day, the number of patients presenting with allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, or new-onset respiratory allergies has nearly doubled compared to previous periods.
Children between 5 and 15 years appear particularly vulnerable due to their developing immune systems, while adults aged 25 to 40 are also showing increased cases of sinusitis, largely attributed to pollution exposure combined with lifestyle factors.
Dr. B Vageesh Padiyar, senior consultant and head of ENT at Yatharth Hospital in Noida, addressed a common misconception: "People often wrongly assume allergies are purely hereditary, but many patients in Delhi-NCR with no prior history have developed severe symptoms in the past one or two years."
The doctor confirmed that he had reviewed the five-year-old's case and concurred with the surgical recommendation, noting that the child's condition followed a pattern increasingly common in the pollution-plagued region.
As Delhi-NCR continues to grapple with hazardous air quality levels, this case serves as a stark reminder of the very real human cost of environmental degradation, particularly affecting the most vulnerable members of society.
