Children in Danger! Hospitals Overflow as Delhi's AQI Hits 300+

Winter in Delhi has brought dangerous levels of air pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) has crossed 300. Hospitals are now reporting a big rise in children and infants coming in with breathing problems.

Parents are worried as their children develop asthma attacks, severe coughing, pneumonia, and trouble breathing. Doctors warn that young kids are at higher risk because their lungs are still developing. Even short exposure to polluted air can be harmful to them.

What is AQI?

AQI stands for Air Quality Index, a number that tells us how clean or polluted the air is. The higher the number, the more dangerous the air is for health. It measures pollutants like dust, smoke, and chemicals in the air, helping people know when it’s safe to go outside or when they should take precautions.

What AQI 300+ Means

An AQI above 300 is Hazardous. At this level:

• Everyone may have serious health effects
• Children, older people, and those with health issues are in great danger
• Outdoor activity is risky, even for healthy adults

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Why Children Are Most Affected

Children’s lungs are smaller and still growing, so polluted air hurts them more than adults. Breathing smoke, dust, and chemicals can cause asthma attacks, bronchitis or pneumonia.

Infants under two are especially at risk, which is why hospitals are seeing more emergency cases than usual.

Repeated exposure to dirty air can cause long-term lung problems. Children may have chronic asthma, poor lung growth and an even higher risk of respiratory diseases in the future.

This is why protecting children from polluted air is very important. Schools, communities, and parents all need to take action.

Symptoms to Watch in Children

Parents should watch for warning signs like:

• Constant coughing or wheezing
• Fast or difficult breathing
• Chest discomfort
• Frequent colds or respiratory infections

If you notice these symptoms, see a doctor immediately. Breathing problems can get worse quickly in polluted air.

How Parents Can Protect Their Kids

1. Stay indoors when AQI is high
2. Use air purifiers to keep indoor air clean
3. Wear an N95 mask when outside
4. Keep windows closed to stop polluted air from entering
5. Give nutritious food and water to keep the immune system strong

Pollution Can Affect Even Before Birth

Delhi’s toxic air doesn’t just affect children once they’re born, it can also impact babies in the womb. Doctors say that pollutants and tiny particles inhaled by pregnant women can cross the placenta, affecting the baby’s lung development. This increases the risk of low birth weight, asthma, and long-term breathing problems.

Paediatricians at major hospitals, including AIIMS, report that cases of newborns needing oxygen or NICU care spike every winter as AQI crosses dangerous levels. Many infants end up in hospitals with severe breathing distress, showing just how serious the problem has become.

Medical experts emphasize that Delhi’s pollution is no longer just an environmental issue, it’s now a neonatal health crisis.

This winter, be careful. Children are most vulnerable; protect them now to avoid serious health problems later.