Rising air pollution pushes up hay fever cases in city
Times of India | 7 January 2026
Kolkata: The rising air pollution has led to an increase in the number of patients suffering from allergic rhinitis. Also known as hay fever, it is a condition of nasal inflammation triggered by allergens like pollen and dust mites, resulting in sneezing, nasal irritation, a runny nose and watery eyes. These symptoms often overlap with seasonal cold and cough. If left untreated, the condition can lead to asthma.
The upcoming annual conference of the Association of Otolaryngologists of India (AOI) in Kolkata will have a full day dedicated to discussions on allergic rhinitis. A care guideline for this condition, specific to the Indian population, will also be released during the conference.
City physicians said that rising air pollution during the winter months is causing a surge in respiratory issues, including allergic rhinitis. Many confuse it with common cold and cough due to overlapping symptoms. ENT specialists warned that while common cold and cough is self-limiting, allergic rhinitis calls for proper diagnosis and treatment before the condition becomes chronic. "If not addressed on time, allergic rhinitis will persist, leading to allergens percolating down to the lungs, and patients can develop asthma, which is a debilitating condition," said ENT surgeon Dwaipayan Mukherjee, AOI national president.
Doctors said that in addition to automobiles and construction activities for rapid urbanisation that are worsening air quality, increasing indoor pollution is also another trigger for allergic rhinitis. At present, many hospitals have patients, mostly older people, in ICUs with severe respiratory issues, apart from COPD cases.
"All these years, we followed a care guideline for allergic rhinitis created by western countries, whereas the characteristics of allergens in our country, pollution levels and genetics are not similar. For the first time, a 14-member committee from across India formulated an India-specific guideline, which we are going to release in Kolkata during our 77th AOI annual conference. It will be a ready reckoner for ENT doctors," added Mukherjee.
The 4-day-long conference starting this Thursday is expected to have participation from experts from countries including the UK, USA, Japan and Brazil, exchanging knowledge with Indian counterparts. "A medico-legal guideline for ENT treatment will also be published during the conference," said ENT specialist Utpal Jana, organising chairman and president, Bengal AOI. In addition, the conference will have workshops on subjects like vertigo and facial plastic surgery.