What makes Bangaloreans sneeze

Priyanjana Dutta
CNN-IBN

Bangalore: Health problems due to pollution are on the rise and tech-
city Bangalore is topping the list with highest number of dust
allergy cases.


Many like Vasudharini, who have been living in Bangalore for years
now, are biting the dustâ€"literally.


As this 49-year-old gets ready for her morning walk, she knows
she'll have to take extra precautions against a city that is
becoming increasingly polluted.


"Initially, I wasn't getting this problem. But from the last 11
years, I'm suffering because of this dust allergy. Basically, it's
due to dust and I start coughing, sneezing and then ultimately I get
breathing problems," says Vasudharini Narayan, a resident of
Bangalore.


"When we shifted to Bangalore, pollution was not that much. Now, the
number of vehicles on the road has gone up and pollution has
aggravated the problem," she adds.


And it's not just older people who're being affected, four-year-old
Dhruvi has been fighting a dust allergy since she was two.


"When she was two and half, she started going to school. Because of
the dust on her way, and due to other kids in school, she used to
get cough and cold more often," says Sowmya Dayanand, a resident of
Bangalore.


A recent study conducted by the Batra health clinic across major
metros found that Bangalore had the highest concentration of
patients with dust allergies.


"The percentage of patients having dust allergy since last year has
risen by 33.58," says Branch Head at Dr Batra's Clinic, Dr Savita
Sasihithlu.


"Dust allergy can manifest itself as just sneezing or common allergy
which many patients can live with for some years but it's only when
it goes into wheezing or bronchitis, that's a potentially life
threatening position," she adds


There was a time when this weed â€" parthenium â€" was considered one of
the root causes of respiratory tract allergies and infections in
Bangalore.


But now, it's more vehicular pollution and large scale construction
activity that's making dust allergy a very common recurring health
disorder.

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