Idowu Abdullahi
Public health physicians have urged Nigerians to adopt preventive measures against the adverse effects of harmattan being experienced in some parts of the country.
The epidemiologists said harmattan had negative effects on health, warning that it could trigger respiratory and skin diseases, and worsen chronic health conditions.
The medical practitioners identified people living with chronic respiratory diseases as those who were at a higher risk of health conditions triggered by harmattan season.
The physicians who spoke in separate exclusive interviews with PUNCH Healthwise, also cautioned that those battling arthritis may have a tougher time during the season due to the accompanied low temperature of harmattan.
Aside from those battling underlying health conditions, the experts explained that traffic wardens, Vehicle Inspection Officers, Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Traffic Management Agency officials, among others are susceptible to risk factors associated with harmattan.
In Nigeria, the harmattan season typically occurs between November and March.
The peak of harmattan falls between December and January when the dry, dusty winds from the Sahara Desert are at their strongest. These winds lead to cooler temperatures, low humidity, and poor air quality. The season gradually tapers off by March.
Meanwhile, research has also shown the correlation between the season and the spread of airborne diseases. Illnesses such as sore throat, frequent sneezing, watery or reddish eyes, catarrh, and dried skin and lips are common during this time.
Poor visibility, dehydration, fire outbreaks, foodborne diseases and triggers of sickle cell crisis in sufferers are also health and environmental challenges that come with this season.
A Professor of Public Health, Tanimola Akande, told our correspondent that while the season may trigger common respiratory diseases among others, there are ways to prevent the health conditions associated with harmattan.
According to him, harmattan season is usually dusty, windy, cold, and with low humidity and these conditions trigger diseases.
“Harmattan could trigger most common respiratory diseases. Such diseases include rhinitis, common cold, sore throat, and exacerbation of asthmatic attacks.
“It can also lead to skin dryness and irritation as well as eye irritation. It may also worsen arthritis because of the low temperature associated with harmattan,” the expert said.
Identifying those at risk, the professor of public health listed children, adults, males, and females and everyone living in the area with harmattan.
“People who are asthmatic or have some other chronic respiratory diseases are at greater risk,” Akande said.
He, however, advised people with underlying conditions to mitigate the impact of harmattan season by adhering to safety precautions and improving their personal hygiene.
Akande said, “Everyone should act to minimise or totally prevent disease conditions resulting from harmattan by taking measures such as; use of face masks in dust areas, staying indoors as much as possible, wet cleaning of houses, and use of appropriate clothing.”
On his part, a public health physician and epidemiologist, Dr Japhet Olugbogi, explained that law enforcement officers who carry out their activities on the roads and highways may be exposed to germs which can trigger health conditions associated with harmattan.
Olugbogi, who is the Medical Officer of Health, Ifelodun Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, added that those working in sawmills and marketplaces are also prone to health conditions that could be triggered by the season.
“Those whose jobs make them be on the road or in exposed places can have dust entering their eyes and nose, especially law enforcement officers, who usually stand on the road where vehicles are raising a lot of dust or Okada riders. People working in sawmills, market places or in areas where the road is not tarred may also be at risk as the dust can give them a form of irritation in their airways,” the expert told HealthWise.
On health conditions that could be triggered by harmattan, Olugbogi listed cough, hypersensitivity reaction, dehydration, skin diseases among others.
He said, “The weather is always colder than other seasons of the year. So, because of that, those who are asthmatic can have triggers because of the dust. So many things are dry at that particular point in time and those who are asthmatic can begin to have frequent attacks if they’re exposed to dust.
“Apart from that, there is respiratory tract infection which a lot of people call cough. This is so because a lot of people may inhale germs infested dust because it won’t just be dust as it were, but germs infested dust during the season.
“Also, those who have what we call hypersensitivity reaction (those who react to things easily) can also be triggered by the harmattan, as this is also similar to those who are asthmatic.
“There are also those who are prone to having skin diseases, especially skin rashes, dermatitis, eczema among others can be triggered in people during the season. Crack lip is also another common health condition during harmattan. And people always make crack lips look like something that can be wished away with a wave of the hand but it bothers a lot of people because it gives people discomfort in terms of physical attraction.”
Advising Nigerians on how to mitigate the possible health conditions associated with the season, the expert said people should always remain hydrated and inculcate regular use of face masks.
“There are also cases of dehydration because of the weather and people can easily have dehydration. It is advisable that people drink a lot of water as they go by their businesses to stay hydrated because people get thirsty easily during this period.
“Dehydration can make people run fever, feel tired or fatigued and for those who are living with sickle cell anemia, it can make their blood thick which can trigger an attack in them. They should endeavour to take a lot of water.
“It is advisable that people protect themselves by wearing nose masks if they know they’re going to be in an environment where there is going to be dust. It is also advisable that if you are prone to crack lips or just for a form of protection to use lip balm during the season.”
Contributing, a family physician and past chairman, Association of Private Medical Practitioners, Dr Tunji Akintade, said harmattan season triggers health conditions due to its associated cold, dry, and dusty conditions.
He listed the likely health triggers to include respiratory problems, skin issues, eye problem, allergy and exacerbation in sickle cell patients, adding that respiratory problems like common cold, cough, and catarrh are prevalent during the season.
“The dry air can exacerbate conditions like asthma, making it essential for asthmatic patients to take extra precautions. Skin condition due to dry skin, cracked lips, and nosebleeds are frequent complaints. Eye problems can occur due to the dust and dryness, causing itching, redness, and foreign body sensations.
“Dehydration can lead to sickle cell crises in individuals with sickle cell anemia. Other illnesses associated with harmattan include allergies, pneumonia, and bronchitis, especially in vulnerable populations like the young and elderly. The humid weather can also lead to dehydration, so it’s crucial to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated,” Akintade, who is also the past chairman, Healthcare Providers Association in Lagos State, told HealthWise.
Climate Change
On the possible impact of climate change on the season, Akande said the development may increase or decrease the health effects.
“Climate change has made it more difficult to predict the onset, duration, and intensity of harmattan season. It can, therefore, increase or decrease the health effects of harmattan,” the professor said.
He, however, urged Nigeria and other countries to adopt and implement measures recommended by global bodies to curb the effect of climate change.
Akande said, “There are known global activities resulting in climate change, a lot has to do with the burning of fossil fuels and industrialisation, among others. All countries must make efforts to take measures recommended by global bodies and conventions to reduce the effect of climate.”
Also, Olugbogi explained that it is likely that climate change disrupts the harmattan season, adding that climate change is a problem and Nigeria is not exempted from its effect.
“So, it is hard to predict whether we are going to have an adverse effect of the weather but we would have to get the answers from the meteorologists.
“Apart from that, it is likely that climate change affects the harmattan and causes a bit of disruption to the season, whether positively or negatively. As it is now, the weather is very hot and that means that people will sweat a lot more and then the more they sweat, the less water in their body and the more dehydrated they are,” the expert said.
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