Overview
- Experts report Delhi’s air quality reaching “severe” levels above 400 AQI, with Mumbai in the “poor” range and Bengaluru and Pune exceeding WHO PM2.5 limits, and they warn that pollution can cut life expectancy and raise pneumonia hospitalisations by more than 6% with small PM2.5 increases.
- Cold air and fine particulates impair mucociliary clearance and inflame the airways, making it easier for pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and influenza viruses to invade the lungs.
- WHO marks World Pneumonia Day by calling to scale prevention through essential vaccines, strengthen primary care for early recognition, and ensure reliable access to medical oxygen and pulse oximetry.
- Doctors recommend pneumococcal and influenza vaccination for children under five, adults aged 50 and above, and people with chronic conditions, alongside measures like N95 masks outdoors, cleaner indoor air, and prompt evaluation of persistent respiratory symptoms.
- Clinicians caution that pollution can blur clinical signs and delay diagnosis, driving unnecessary antibiotic use and worsening antimicrobial resistance, and they urge strict stewardship to protect treatment effectiveness.