New Delhi, Dec. 21 -- Amid deteriorating air quality in the national capital, Internal Medicine Specialist Dr S. Chatterjee on Sunday said that pollution levels usually begin to decline by this time of year, but that has not happened this season. As a result, hospitals are seeing a significant rise in patients with pollution-related health issues.

Chatterjee said patients are increasingly reporting symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, cough, breathlessness, worsening asthma, bronchitis, and flare-ups of pre-existing lung conditions, including interstitial lung disease and lung fibrosis.

"Unfortunately, we have not been able to control the pollution till quite late now. Earlier, by this time, the levels would start co...