Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Dec 4: As Kashmir continues to experience an unusually dry and biting cold spell, health facilities across the Valley are witnessing a steady rise in patients complaining of common cold, cough, fever, throat irritation and other winter-related respiratory ailments.
Doctors estimate that more than 10 per cent of daily OPD cases are now linked to these seasonal infections, a number that has been climbing with each passing day due to the cold and dry weather.
They said the combination of dry air, sharp temperature drops, and increased indoor confinement has created perfect conditions for viral infections to multiply and spread.
Dr Zahoor Ahmad Mir, posted at the district hospital in south Kashmir, said the weather has played a crucial role in the recent surge.
“Dry and cold conditions cause viruses to survive longer, and the throat and nasal passages lose moisture, making people more susceptible to infections,” he said. “That is why we are seeing a consistent inflow of patients with cold and flu-like symptoms.”
Dr Mir added that most cases are mild but can turn serious for vulnerable groups such as infants, the elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses.
Another doctor said he examined dozens of similar cases over the past week. Respiratory tract infections tend to increase sharply whenever the Valley passes through prolonged dry spells, said Dr Yasir Ahmad Shah.
“In many hospitals, over one-tenth of our daily patients are coming with cold, cough, mild fever, sinus issues or throat infections. People need to understand that these are typical winter illnesses, but timely care is important,” he said.
Dr Shah added that patients with asthma, COPD, heart diseases or diabetes may experience aggravated symptoms during such weather transitions and should monitor their health more closely.
Doctors said the rise in winter infections is driven by various factors, including dry air weakening the respiratory system’s defences, increased indoor gatherings with poor ventilation, and the use of heating appliances like bukharis, gas heaters, and kangris, which are enclosed spaces where viruses thrive.
They said smoke from wood and coal irritates airways and can trigger infections, while vitamin D deficiency due to limited sunlight exposure lowers immunity. Dust accumulation in homes during winter further aggravates breathing issues.
They said prolonged use of smoke-emitting heating devices significantly affects children and the elderly. “We see many cases where throat irritation and persistent cough start due to smoke exposure and later turn into full-fledged infections,” Dr Shah added.
Health officials advise simple preventive measures, such as maintaining proper ventilation inside homes, avoiding excessive use of heating devices, ensuring chimneys and exhausts are functional, drinking warm fluids, eating nutritious food, keeping homes clean and dust-free, wearing masks in crowded indoor spaces, and avoiding unnecessary antibiotics. They also recommend that vulnerable groups consider getting flu vaccinations after consulting their doctors.
The situation is likely to continue if the weather remains the same, they warned, adding that if the dry and cold spell persists, the number of patients with winter infections will continue to grow.
“Such spikes are common during dry winters. People must remain cautious because these infections spread rapidly in closed spaces,” a doctor said, urging the public not to ignore persistent symptoms.
