Islamabad - The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has started providing medical assistance to pollen allergy patients in its emergency ward and outpatient department (OPD) of Pulmonology Department.
Around 50 patients visited the PIMS emergency for oxygen and nebulization during the last 24 hours, PIMS spokesman Dr. Wasim Khawaja said.
He said keeping in view the situation, extra staff has been deputed in the emergency ward to treat pollen allergy patients.
He said that 50 nebulization machines have been installed to facilitate incoming patients. He added special arrangements have been made to admit serious patients at Pulmonology department of the hospital like availability of ventilators for serious patients.
He said that mild patients visit Pulmonology department while serious patients visit the emergency ward. He said that during the current month so far 1000 pollen allergy patients visited the hospital with different complications.
He advised pollen allergy patients to adopt precautionary measures to avoid any complication. He said as pollen count is gradually increasing, the allergy patients should take medicine regularly besides taking other measures.
Dr Wasim Khawaja said allergy patients should avoid moving at places having the offending plant growth and presence of its pollen in the air.
He asked the pollen patients who work outside to wear face masks designed to filter pollen out of the air reaching their nasal passages. He said during periods of high pollen levels, the patients should avoid unnecessary exposure to irritants such as dust, insect sprays, tobacco smoke, air pollution, and fresh tar or paint. Any of these things can aggravate the symptoms of pollen allergy, adding, when pollen allergy is not treated, complications may occur.
Dr Wasim Khawaja said people with seasonal allergies who cannot avoid pollen, the symptoms can be controlled with medication on advice of physician including antihi stamines, corticosteroids, and cromolyn sodium, any of which can be used alone or in combination.
Dr Sharif Astori from Federal Government Poly Clinic (FGPC) said that daily 50 to 60 pollen allergy patients are visiting the hospital for treatment of complications. He added all basic facilities have been made available for incoming patients by the administration.
Meanwhile, the citizens asked the concerned quarters to make proper arrangements in hospitals of the federal capital for critical patients of pollen allergy by providing ventilators to them in case of severe emergency.
They also demanded that an awareness drive be launched to educate citizens about the disease. Literature regarding the disease should be provided to the pollen allergy patients at the outpatient department of Pulmonology Department of PIMS for awareness.
They asked to provide concerned medical facilities to such patients free of cost while these patients should also be provided free life saving medicines in the emergency department besides nebulization, bronchodilaters, steroids, oxygen therapy, nursing care and specialists’ consultation.