By Josephine Oguntoyinbo
|
The need for people to maintain proper hygiene and properly dress to prevent diseases associated with the harmattan period has again been stressed.

An Akure based medical practitioner, Dr Adedayo Alonge stated this in a chart with The Hope.

According to him, due to the very dry air and cold weather, air borne infection is common during this period and people could be infected if caution is not taken.

“People must change some habits as the weather changes .People  must ensure they properly covered their chests, especially the children, they should not eat cold foods ,proper hygiene by regularly washing of hands among others is sacrosanct”, he advised.

While saying during this period, humidity drops to as low as 15 percent, which can result to spontaneous nose bleeds, he explained that it has effects on the skin, eyes, and respiratory system including aggravation of asthma.

“The skin, eyes and the respiratory tract which directly communicate with the atmosphere and also via the nose, and mouth are most vulnerable to the adverse effects of this weather.

“The eyes are directly exposed to the harsh weather because of the dust particles carried by the wind thus resulting to itching and redness, especially individuals with allergic eye disease.

“The skin is usually dry with accompanying cracking of lips while sole of elderly are particularly prone to hypothermia due to sub optimal temperature regulating mechanism”, he stressed.

Alonge informed that the eye should be washed regularly with clean water and also be protected with spectacles to reduce exposure to dust.

He said the dry, cold, and dusty wind during harmattan also trigger sickle cell crises hence the need for affected people to be vigilant and keep warm as much as possible to prevent crises.

He maintained that because of the dusty atmosphere, people should imbibe healthy food preservation culture and cover water containers properly so as to prevent food and water borne diseases.

The medical practitioner suggested that the aged and children should be given special attentions in order not to contact chest infection such as pneumonia.