There is an increase of about 20 to 30 percent incidence of seasonal nasal allergy and associated respiratory diseases owing to current dusty weather.
A survey of city hospitals including Aga Khan University Hospital, Civil Hospital, JPMC, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital by PPI revealed that patients suffering from sinusitis, nasal allergies, asthma and others are turning up to city hospitals for relief.
Medical expert linked surge in ENT ailments to prevalent dusty weather. Dug-up roads, in the cosmopolitan have further aggravated the situation and no one is safe from dust particles.
They said viral infection had also hit the city as number of people suffering from flu, slight fever also reported. Dr Qaisar Sajjad, an ENT specialist, said cases of patients describing allergic symptoms like running nose, blocked noses and experience difficulty in breathing had increased.
He said: "The increased incidence of nasal allergies at this time of the month are because of the dust. Those who were already suffering from the allergy have become more prone to the disease".
While it is difficult to prevent allergic reactions and most of them simply have to be endured, there are ways by which those prone to them can prevent themselves from having an allergic reaction.
Dr Qaiser suggested that persons who are suffering from viral infection should limit outdoor activities and take complete rest besides taking a lot of water.
"These people should set aside their used households to save other members of family. They should also avoid shaking hand with others and hugging with them to stop circulation of virus", he concluded.