On World Asthma Day, Ahmedabad-based physicians stated that the number of asthma cases has increased over the past year. Last year, Gujarat was hit hard by the delta variant of the virus causing the worst scenario of the pandemic. Many patients who survived the attack developed lung comorbidities such as fibrosis etc.

Dr. Tushar Patel, Pulmonologist stated that many patients were not aware of their asthmatic symptoms. However, latent asthma and related comorbidities were exposed when they were severely infected. Dr. Manoj Singh explained that many cases came forward due to awareness and symptoms associated with the chest and lungs in Covid infection. He stated that many professionals have started identifying phenotypes of individual patients to reduce steroid dependence and design an alternative treatment regimen.

Dr. Sharvil Soni attributed climate change and pollutants as one of the major factors in latent asthma exposure. He also stated that after severe infection in the 30-40 years age group, dry cough remained persistent in many survivors. 

(Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/severe-corona-attack-exposed-latent-asthma-in-many/91274506 )