Delhi-NCR’s toxic air is placing an unprecedented burden on children’s respiratory health. Recently, a mother shared how her five-year-old needed tonsil surgery after developing persistent, pollution-linked complications soon after moving to the city. Paediatricians across the region report that such cases are becoming increasingly common as more children present with severe allergy-related illnesses.
Acute Respiratory Emergencies Are Rising
In Noida, a three-year-old boy was hospitalised with acute bronchiolitis during a phase of severe smog. What began as a mild cough escalated into breathlessness, requiring high-flow oxygen. “No infection was detected. This was clearly pollution-triggered airway inflammation,” said Dr Vivek Jain, head of paediatrics at Fortis Noida.
Chronic Irritation Leading to Surgical Needs
Similarly, a five-year-old from Shalimar Bagh, previously stable on treatment for adenotonsillar hypertrophy, returned with mouth breathing, nasal blockage, and loud snoring. An ENT assessment revealed a relapse with further adenoid enlargement. According to Dr Jain, “This is chronic mucosal irritation from prolonged exposure to polluted air. A surgical intervention is now likely.”
He added that Delhi’s toxic air has “turned the city into a gas chamber,” placing immense strain on children whose immune systems are still developing. “Cases that had almost disappeared during Covid are returning rapidly,” he noted.
Infants Too Are Struggling to Breathe
At Manipal Hospital in Ghaziabad, a six-month-old baby was recently brought in with severe breathing difficulty. Doctors diagnosed wheezy bronchitis triggered by pollution. “His tiny airways were irritated and narrowed,” said Dr Sumit Gupta. The infant required repeated nebulisation sessions before stabilising.
Daily Routines Disrupted by Toxic Air
Parents are also reporting alarming changes in their children’s physical stamina. An 11-year-old football enthusiast in Raj Nagar Extension began returning home breathless within minutes of playing outdoors. “The doctor told us it wasn’t an infection but pollution irritating his airways. It’s frightening that simply breathing the air is harming them,” said his father, Nikhil Kansal.
Recurrent Wheeze and Severe Flare-Ups
Doctors across NCR are witnessing more recurrent wheeze episodes. One seven-year-old in Ghaziabad, symptom-free for nine months, developed a persistent cough and night-time wheezing as air quality declined. She eventually needed frequent nebulisations, oral steroids, and even intravenous steroids to stabilise her condition.
New Illnesses Emerging in Previously Healthy Children
As reported by TOI, pollution is also triggering respiratory diseases in children with no past history. Dr Shashidhar, head of ENT at Artemis Hospital, described a 13-year-old who moved from Singapore. “He had no airway issues there. Soon after arriving here, he developed adenoid hypertrophy,” he said. Another family reported that their child’s chronic cough—persistent for months in India—vanished within weeks of moving abroad. “These cases show how strongly pollution is shaping children’s health,” he added.
Severe Complications Now Appearing in Teenagers
Worryingly, the impact extends beyond typical winter respiratory problems. During the most polluted weeks—from late October to November—teenagers have even presented with pulmonary embolism, often described as a “lung attack.” This potentially fatal condition occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery in the lung.
Dr Sharad Joshi, head of pulmonology at Max, Vaishali, recently treated a 17-year-old who developed sudden breathlessness. The student frequently studied outdoors on his terrace to get sunlight. “Prolonged sitting in heavily polluted air triggered clot formation in his legs, which travelled to the lungs,” Dr Joshi explained. “Without rapid treatment, such clots can be deadly.”