By Ajita Rijal

Kathmandu, Dec. 17:With the fall of mercury, children and elderly have become more vulnerable to cold related illnesses.
Doctors suggested that the children and elderly should avoid exposure to cold, dust, and smoke.
The major illness being faced by the people during the winter season includes stroke, blood pressure, respiratory problems, shortness of breath, cough, winter diarrhoea, pneumonia, asthma and common cold.
The immune system of both the children and elderly are weak than that of other people, so they must be protected from the cold, doctors said.
The parents should take extra care of the children by providing warm clothes, balanced diet and liquids for improving their immune system, said Dr. Jyoti Ratna Dhakhwa, a paediatrician.
Lack of humidifier and the changing temperature affect the health of the children suddenly, said Dhakhwa.
According to Dr. Dhakhwa, the exposure of indoor smoke and the outdoor smoke from fire lit from tire are toxic and hamper the health of individual, especially the children. “While making the fire or using heater one should take precautions for creating humidity and maintain the room temperature,” said Dr Dhakhwa.
The Terai people must protect themselves from the cold wave. Due to the prolonged exposures to extreme cold temperature, people often die of hypothermia.
Dr. Jageshwor Gautam, a gynaecologist and the director of Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, said that new mothers and newly born babies were more vulnerable to cold. Both mother and baby should be kept in warm and new mothers should intake warm liquids and balanced diet.
Dr. Gautam suggested breastfeeding for the newly born at least for six months to strengthen their immune system.
According director of Kanti Children Hospital Dr. RP Bichha, patients of asthma, pneumonia and chronic common cold and rota viral cases have soared these days in the hospital.
Dr Bichha said that the children should not be taken on the bikes during the winter, as children will be exposed to cold and dust, which is very harmful for their health.
According to the doctors, cold with the dust pollutants in the air are harmful for health. Chemicals like carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide have direct impact on lungs and are one of the major causes of respiratory problems and infection.
Other various health problems like itching eyes, skin allergy and feeling of heavy heart are due to air pollution and cold.
Doctors suggest taking only the prescribed medication and asked people for applying home remedies for general cough and cold.
According to doctors’ suggestions, one can apply home remedies like ginger and honey and basil leaf, cinnamon, turmeric powders among others to keep one safe from cold.