Hyderabad: With Hyderabad’s worsening air quality, doctors pointed out that pollutants, including particulate matter (PM2.5), are triggering a surge in respiratory illnesses, allergies, and even immune-related disorders across the city.Several patients are turning up at the ENT govt hospital, Koti, and private hospitals with blocked noses, breathing difficulty, and a persistent cough.Doctors said PM2.5, tiny particles which originate from sources such as vehicle exhaust, factories, fires, and dust, pose significant health risks. They stay close to the ground in winter and build up because there is very little wind and the air does not move much. This leads to prolonged exposure, particularly from Nov to Jan, a period doctors now describe as the “peak allergy season”, stretching from Diwali to Sankranti.“PM2.5 is small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. Its impact is not limited to breathing problems. It affects immunity and increases susceptibility to viral infections,” said Dr Keshavan V, pulmonologist, Apollo Hospitals.Winter spike in allergies, infectionsENT specialists, pulmonologists, and physicians across Hyderabad reported a sharp rise in cases of sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, and chronic cough during the winter months.They said that air pollution acts as a trigger rather than just a cause, aggravating underlying allergic and respiratory conditions. Patients with pre-existing allergies are particularly vulnerable, and even youngsters are not spared.In a recent case, a 22-year-old woman from Old City with a history of allergies experienced worsening cough and breathing difficulty every winter. Blood tests revealed elevated eosinophil levels, a marker of allergic disease, along with a strong family history of similar conditions.“These are signs of significant allergy, and pollution acts as a catalyst. In winter, we see flare-ups of allergic conditions due to a combination of pollution, cold air, and reduced immunity. Sinusitis cases peak in November, December, and January. Many patients complain of nasal block, facial pain, chronic cough, and breathing difficulty,” he added.From allergy to asthma, doctors pointed out that worsening air quality overburdens the nose and causes nasal congestion, reducing this filtration.“When this congestion is combined with high levels of dust and PM2.5 pollution, the nose is unable to effectively filter harmful particles and organisms. As a result, people experience frequent colds, viral infections, and allergic flare-ups,” said Dr Anand Acharya, superintendent, ENT hospital, Koti.Like smoking 5-6 cigarettes a dayWhile Delhi’s severe air pollution, especially during hazardous AQI spikes (over 300–400), is often equated to smoking 20 to 30 cigarettes daily, doctors said that, when compared with Hyderabad’s AQI (usually near 200), it can be equivalent to smoking five to six cigarettes a day, and even more in high-traffic zones and industrial areas.“This comparison helps people understand that even non-smokers are being forced into passive exposure,” said Dr Aditya Bapuji, a senior physician in Banjara Hills.Pollution also blocks vitamin DBeyond respiratory illness, experts have warned that Hyderabad’s smoggy skies are interfering with the body’s ability to produce vitamin D, causing weakened immunity, bone disorders, fatigue, and an increased risk of infections, which compounds the health burden during winter.Doctors advised residents to limit outdoor exposure during peak pollution hours, wear masks in traffic-heavy areas, maintain indoor air quality, and seek early medical advice if symptoms persist.“Access to clean air, free from dust, pollutants, and allergens, is not only essential for comfort, but for preventing long-term respiratory and immune disorders,” said Dr Acharya.
