Borivli resident Parth Rander, 4, rarely goes out to play with children his age, as he is always at the risk of an asthma attack, triggered by pollutants in the environment.
Rander was diagnosed with asthma when he was just three months old, and has been advised against playing outdoors. “He tends to fall ill immediately, if there is any rise in dust and air pollution,” said his mother, Akshika.
The family has already spent more than Rs 3.5 lakh on his treatment. “We went to several doctors after he experienced difficulty breathing, after birth. Doctors told us he had developed pneumonia and later confirmed he had asthma,” said Akshika. When he turned one, doctors switched him to advanced drugs, as he was not responding to standard therapy using inhalers. “Twice, he was admitted to the ICU, after bouts of coughing,” said Akshika.