Taking precautions: Dust storm sparks major allergy attacks

Some visit hospitals, some opt for self-medication.

KARACHI:

The Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) ENT head, Dr Tariq Rafi, whose usual patient attendance ranges from 25 to 30 people, saw almost a three-fold increase on Tuesday due to the dust storm a day earlier.

Rafi said that about 75 to 100 patients, all with a medical history of allergies, complained of severe allergies, asthma, sneezing, a runny nose and sore throat.

Similarly, Civil and Abbasi Shaheed Hospitals saw an unusual number of asthma and allergy patients at their OPDs. Dr Mohammad Iqbal Memon of Civil hospital said that from Monday evening to Tuesday morning, almost 20 patients were treated with severe and mild symptoms of aggravated allergies. Abbasi Shaheed’s medical superintendent, Dr Nadeem Rajput, was unsure about the exact number but said that the ENT patients were more than usual.

Grateful that the storm was short-lived, the JPMC deputy director Dr Seemin Jamali said that its impact on health was not alarming. However, according to the Civil hospital’s Dr Nighat Farooqui it could be easily said that such a dust storm severely affected a large number of asthma patients in the city but people were more likely to go to the general physicians nearby. The timing of the storm, which started late evening, also saved a lot of people as most had reached home from school and work by then, added Farooqui.

Such an unexpected change in weather, where the environment is loaded with dust particles, can severely harm asthma and other allergy patients, warned Rafi. Exposure can result in an allergic rhinitis and asthma-rhinitis (inflammation and irritation of the mucous inside nose and respiratory allergy), pharyngitis (throat allergy), the viral sinusitis (an inflammation of the para-nasal sinuses caused due to infection, allergy or autoimmune problems), fever, temporary hearing loss and even status asthmaticus, a severe asthma attack which could be fatal. Both Rafi and Memon suggested that the first defence against such a change in environment is to remain indoors with windows and doors closed. The use of masks, steam, anti-allergic medicine and inhalers are useful for patients with a history.

Animal alert

Such weather also affects animals, although they are at a lower risk as they remain indoors within the boundary of the house, said veterinary doctor Dr Zulfiqar Haider. He said that pets and even large animals, such as birds, cats, dogs, horses, donkeys, mules and camels, could also be prone to allergy. Mostly they are affected by the flu, ie, a constant runny nose and redness of eyes. Birds, particularly parrots can suffer from Chlamydia psittaci, an intracellular parasitic infection that is harmful because it can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Dogs and cats can also get skin problems as dermatitis and allergic reactions. Dr Shernawaz, who is a vet for working animals such as horses, donkeys and mules, said that dust usually causes infections of the eye and in the respiratory system.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2012.