Kolkata, Jul 14 (UNI) Covid-19 has shaken the world to its roots and is the cause of widespread fear and panic for more reasons than one.
Among the various changes it has caused in the lives of people, an important one
is the increased attention and care for respiratory health.
A large section of Indians struggle with chronic respiratory issues such as respiratory
allergies, allergic rhinitis, etc., which have similar symptoms to Covid-19 as they are all
diseases that impact the respiratory system. People are riddled with fear because of a
sneeze or cough due to the lack of awareness regarding the distinguishing symptoms
of various respiratory diseases.
World Allergy Week is observed from June 28 to July 4, as part of a global campaign
of the World Allergy Organisation (WAO), which aims to raise awareness of the impact
of allergy among communities.
This year, World Allergy Week emphasizes on the theme ‘Allergy care does not stop
with COVID-19’. With the onset of the monsoons, cases of common cold, flu and
seasonal allergies are inevitable. With the larger part of the population confined indoors
due to Covid-19, indoor pollution has become an increasing concern. It has been proven
that even a single exposure to indoor air pollutants has the potential to trigger allergies in
patients.
In India, the prevalence of allergies has multiplied by five times, from 6% in 1998 to 30%
in 2018. However, only 35% of the allergy sufferers in India are seeking treatment for their
allergies while 50% of the allergy sufferers are unaware that they are suffering from allergies.
A recent study revealed that allergies affect 33% of Indians but most don’t even get the
right treatment. Majority of Indians believe that respiratory allergies don’t have a long-term
impact and fail to seek treatment until the condition is aggravated. This is due to low
awareness levels and lack of information in the public domain about the subject.
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