‘RESPIRATORY CASES RISE’

Mumbaikars under the weather as winter sets in Mumbai:The chill in the last two dayshas left Mumbaikars breathless and wheezing.      The temperatures in Santa Cruz soared to 17.4 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, about three degrees more than the recorded minimum temperatures on Monday. The minimum temperature in Colaba was 22 degrees Celsius. However, during the afternoon the mercury  climbed to 33.5 degrees and 33.3 degrees in Colaba and Santa Cruz.      According to doctors, the swing in temperature is causing havoc on respiratory tracts. "There is a paradoxical situation with the weather, which is causing more of throat infections than anything else," said Dr Hemant Thacker, who consults in Jaslok and Breach Candy hospitals. "More patients are comingwith wheezing and dry cough. They do not get any phlegm, which is even worse as there is no relief from the bouts of cough until the infection is gone. I have seen about 10 cases daily since the temperature started dipping from Saturday," he added.      While many doctors claim that the infections are allergic reaction to a thick layer of smog in the morning, others believe that most are cases of viral infections. "We are seeing a 40-60% increase in the number of OPD patients suffering from respiratory problems," said Dr Shahid Barmare, physician with Kohinoor Hospital at Kurla.      Dr Khusrav Bajan, intensivist at Hinduja Hospital said there was a lull in the cases of respiratory problems last week. "Smokers and those with existing problems are having trouble during the morning and night," he said.