Dr Santhosh Soans elected National President of Pediatric Critical Care Association

December 27, 2011

Mangalore, December 27: City based pediatrician Dr. Santhosh T. Soans has been elected as the National President of Intensive Care Chapter of Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) during the election held recently at New Delhi. He will serve as President-Elect during 2012 and as President during 2013. Intensive Care Chapter is an autonomous wing of IAP devoted to the sub specialty of pediatric critical care and has branches all over the country. Dr. Soans is the first Kannadiga to be elected to this prestigious position. Earlier he was the National Vice President of IAP for the year 2010.

A pioneer in the field of Pediatric Intensive Care in Karnataka, he has been instrumental in propagating professionalized approach to pediatric intensive care. He has enabled rapid expansion of critical care facilities in this part of the state by helping establish pediatric intensive care units in hospitals, organizing critical care training for doctors and nurses. He has organized two major regional level conferences on critical care medicine – 'Criticon 2003' and 'Criticon 2005', apart from serving as the Executive Secretary of Indo US Emergency Medicine Summit held at Mangalore in 2008 and as Organizing Secretary of Karnataka Pedicon 2009, the state level conference of Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP).

He is the chief organizer for the 14th National Conference for Pediatric Critical Care (NCPCC) to be held in Mangalore in November 2012.

At present he is also the National Convener of IAP Pediatric Heads of Departments Cell, National Convener of IAP National Satellite Linked Continuing Medical Education (in association with ISRO Master Control Facility, Hassan), National Convener of IAP Pediatric Faculty Training Progamme.

Dr. Soans studied MBBS at Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore and acquired his MD and DCH degrees in Pediatrics from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal / Mangalore. This was followed by a brief stint abroad after which he returned to Mangalore to join Fr. Muller's Hospital and Medical College as a Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Presently he serves as Professor and Head of the Department of Pediatrics and Chief of Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at AJ Institute of Medical Science.

All through his career, Dr. Soans has taken a keen interest in pediatric intensive care and adopted it as his professional specialization.

He is actively involved in the activities of Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) and has served four terms as its executive board member representing Karnataka state. Prior to this, he has served for ten years as the Joint Secretary of IAP Karnataka state branch. He is also the Founder President of IAP Intensive Care Chapter Karnataka, Founder Chairman of Indian Society for Critical Care Medicine, Mangalore Chapter and Past Editor of 'The Intensivist', the official journal of IAP Intensive Care Chapter.

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Respiratory illnesses rise in Karnataka’s capital as air quality deteriorates

News Network

February 5,2026

Bengaluru: As air quality continues to worsen across several parts of the city, hospitals in Bengaluru are reporting a steady rise in patients suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), health officials and doctors said.

Data from the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) shows that 3,891 patients received treatment for respiratory ailments between April and November 2024. The figure rose to 4,187 during the same period in 2025.

Private hospitals, too, are witnessing a 10–15 per cent year-on-year increase in such cases.

While doctors caution that the rise cannot be attributed solely to air pollution, a significant number of patients are non-smokers with no prior history of respiratory disease.

“Nearly 70 per cent of the patients we see are non-smokers with no previous respiratory issues. When other causes are ruled out, air pollution emerges as the most likely factor,” said Dr Manjunath PH, consultant interventional pulmonologist at a hospital in Kengeri.

Doctors noted that patient footfall spikes during the winter months and around Deepavali, when air quality typically worsens.

“There is a clear correlation between poor air quality and the rise in cases. People commonly present with persistent cough, breathlessness and irritation of the respiratory tract, indicating the impact of polluted air on their health,” said Dr Sheetal Chaurasia, consultant in pulmonary medicine at a private hospital in Whitefield.

Dr Chaurasia added that respiratory tract infections are also on the rise.

“Poor air quality leads to chronic airway inflammation, making the airways more vulnerable to infections. We are seeing an increase in both upper and lower respiratory tract infections,” she said.

Patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions remain the worst affected.

“For those already diagnosed with respiratory illnesses, deteriorating air quality significantly worsens the condition. Both the frequency and severity of attacks increase sharply,” said Dr Vandana P, a pulmonologist at a hospital on Bannerghatta Road.

Doctors also flagged a worrying trend of rising respiratory problems among younger adults and children.

To reduce exposure, they advised people to wear masks while travelling on two-wheelers or autos and ensure adequate ventilation at home to minimise indoor air pollution.

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