Harmattan
season is usually a dry and dusty period associated with low humidity. Harmattan
is a hot, dry and dusty wind that blows from the Sahara Desert into the Gulf of
Guinea between November and the middle of March.
As a result, the weather is harsh to the respiratory
tract, hair as well as the skin. Some micro-organisms that cause diseases
increase during harmattan period.
Effects of Harmattan
The dry
weather conditions associated with harmattan have various health implications
on humans, affecting their respiratory system, skin and eyes. There is increase
in the number of people coming down with cold and cough to outbreak of a viral
infection commonly referred to as flu; Ear, nose and throat are the first to be
affected. Harmattan increases cases of respiratory infections such as asthma,
cough, catarrh, tonsillitis, influenza, and pneumonia.
It triggers
asthma, bronchitis attacks, and even meningitis.
Harmattan also worsens conditions like the sore throat, the dry air
taken irritates the throat, allergy (and it worsens) as the voice changes and
becomes very croaky. Harmattan also triggers sickle cell crisis in those with
sickle cell anaemia. Oxygen in blood is usually reduced in extreme
temperatures, like cold. Thus, patients with sickle cell anaemia should take
precaution and keep warm as much as possible to prevent a crisis.
Signs and symptoms
Sneezing,
cold, cough, catarrh, noisy breathing, fever, cracked lips, cracked skin,
epistasix (bleeding from nostrils).
How to prevent effect of Harmattan
Parents
should limit their exposure to dust. Curtains should be washed.
Air-conditioners should also be serviced to avoid harmattan induced symptoms. Windows
and fans should be wiped with wet rags. We should take more liquid; especially
water, during harmattan to prevent dehydration and heatstroke. Parents can do steam
inhalation for the children. The moisture will help to sooth the nose, sinuses
as well as the lungs. Parents should observe and ensure high level of personal
hygiene as the infection is often spread from person to person through sneezing
and coughing. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each
year.
Treatment
Over the
counter drugs like antipyretics, analgesics, vitamins and antihistamines are
sometimes recommended for symptomatic reliefs. Complications especially by a
superimposing bacterial infection are treated with appropriate antibiotics. Bacterial
pneumonia, dehydration, asthmatic attacks, sinus problems, ear infections,
epistasix and other worsening chronic medical conditions are treated in the hospitals.
How to protect yourself from Harmattan
Bathe
Children with warm water. This protects against direct cold, and many children
seem to love it! You can also decide to put some Mentholatum on their chests
and the soles of their feet at night to stay warm.
With
every diaper change, you may want to moisturize their buttocks. Some mothers do
this with shea butter. After a warm bath, apply Rub on the sides, chest and
feet. This keeps them warm.
The skin
can be kept healthy by application of oily creams and weather friendly
clothing. Lip balms or the application of Vaseline to the soles of the feet
will prevent them from cracking.
Wearing
warm clothes will keep you warm and protect us from the severe cold. Proper eye
hygiene by rinsing with clean water and reducing the exposure to the dust by
wearing protective spectacles is advised.
This is a
season to have an extra layer on; usually in the mornings when it is very cold
you might want to wear a singlet or undershirt under their clothes. Also let
them have a sweater handy at all times and they can cress up or down as the
weather gets hotter during the day.
For the
girls, please ensure that their hair is made and to keep it
moisturized. You might want to let them spend more time in the house at
this time to protect them from the dry, dusty air during Harmattan.
Asthma
patients should pay special attention to their health and take all possible and
practicable measures to reduce exposure to the dusty atmosphere and they should
carry their inhalers with them at all times. Sickle cell patients should be
vigilant and keep warm as much as possible to prevent crisis.
The weather is very deceptive, this minute, it is very hot, the next minute, it
is cold; or the sun is shining, yet there is a chill in the air.
Parents need a lot of wisdom when it comes to taking care of their
children during harmattan. Give them lots of water to drink and fruits to eat
as this help to build their immunity.
Find ways
to make warm interesting for them; warm food, warm tea, this is a season to
stay away from ice cream and chilled water.
Vitamin
supplementation for children to boost their immunity against infections!