Cry for vacations grows louder | Children battle respiratory ailments, mumps

Srinagar, Nov 21: Amidst chilling temperatures and foggy mornings in Kashmir, a surge in respiratory infections and mumps among school children has triggered widespread concerns.

Parents are voicing their grievances, asserting that the exposure to frigid weather during morning commutes on school buses was contributing to a health crisis.

The parents complain that schools were not in a position to take necessary measures to protect students owing to the huge number of students enrolled.

"We do not blame private schools for any negligence but given the prevailing cold weather, the health of our kids is at risk,” said Shabana, a parent from Ganderbal.

Reports are pouring in from various districts that the majority of students were being affected by respiratory infections, raising alarm among the parents about the well-being of their children.

According to medical experts, the prevailing cold weather is causing respiratory epithelium, increasing susceptibility to various viral infections.

Given the escalating health crisis, doctors are recommending the closure of schools for kindergarten and primary-level students.

Also, the Meteorological Department (MeT) has issued an advisory urging school-going children and elderly individuals to wear masks in the morning due to dust, pollution, and foggy weather.

Director MeT, Kashmir, Mukhtar Ahmad emphasised the necessity of precautions, stating that the dry weather was expected to continue until November 27, with a further dip in the temperature.

Pediatricians emphasise that the survival and transmission of respiratory viral infections intensifies during winter months, especially among children exposed to the chilly environment in schools and buses.

“Weather is very chilly right now, particularly the fog in the early morning hours. This cold causes respiratory epithelium and this increases susceptibility to these viral infections,” Dr Suhail Nayak, a paediatrician, told Greater Kashmir.

He said that the government cannot control the environment in schools and climate and suggested that kindergarten and primary classes should be called off.

“But I think the government should take a call now because the weather is very chilly and this chill is associated with so many things. Kindergarten kids are fragile and face trouble in the morning while boarding the buses. I think their classes should be called off,” he said.

About the advisory on wearing masks by school-going children, Dr Nayak said that wearing masks was a good health habit.

“There are various reasons for which people must wear masks, be it dust, pollution, or fog,” he said.

Dr Nayak said that mumps among school kids started in July and was at its peak in October.

“Presently cases are declining but some cases are happening around,” he said.

Dr Nayak said that the reason behind mumps was that the vaccination for this disease was not done in the government sector.

“Majority of the people get their vaccination done in the government sector but vaccination for mumps is not available in the government sector and that is why these cases are being reported,” he said.

As the cold weather has intensified, the call for the announcement of winter vacation in schools particularly the kindergartens and primary level classes is growing louder.