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Surge in respiratory problems
Doctors have issued safety precautions after seeing a surge in patients with weather related respiratory problems.
DUBAI - Doctors have issued safety precautions after seeing a surge in patients with weather related respiratory problems.
According to them, due to the prevailing dusty conditions, the number of patients with asthma and respiratory allergies has increased considerably.
Symptoms in patients such as coughing, sneezing and accompanying fever may continue for weeks until the fine dust settles down, doctors have warned, while asking patients to avoid direct exposure to the dust.
“The dust in the air is a triggering factor for chest infections. It causes spasms of the respiratory airways leading to breathing difficulties,” explained Dr Sameem Majid Matto, Specialist Internal Medicine at the Canadian Specialist Hospital. “And due to this we have seen a rise in the number of patients seeking treatment for coughing and wheezing accompanied by fever,” he added.
Dr Ahmed El-Rafei, Allergy and Asthma Specialist from the Ultra Care Medical Group warned that the symptoms may continue for weeks after the dust appears to have settled. “There a difference between a sandstorm and a dust storm. A sandstorm has larger particles, being made up of grains of sand, while dust storms occur where the soil is dry and the particles are lighter and smaller,” he said.
“Asthma attacks can continue after the bad weather we are experiencing right now. When there is a storm, the large particles are settled by gravity on the ground. But lighter particles may remain floating in the air for a while, maybe for weeks. This can make asthma patients suffer for quite some time,” explained the doctor.
Doctors advise patients with allergies, especially children and the elderly, to avoid the outdoors during this weather. “Wear a mask designed to filter out small particulates. Also apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to the inside of your nostrils to prevent drying of mucous membranes,” said Dr El-Rafei.
In case of severe attacks, patients should take prescribed medication. “Prevention is better than cure but in case of attacks, patients can be given inhalers or nebulisers to open up their airways and help them breathe,” said Dr Sameem.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com
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