Harmattan: Expert advises parents to limit children’s exposure to dust

As the harmattan season commences in many parts of northern Nigeria, a medical expert has called on parents to limit their children’s exposure to dust and keep them warm to prevent them from respiratory infections.

The Acting Epidemiologist at the Gombe State Ministry of Health, Dr Nuhu Bile also advised asthma patients to as well avoid exposing themselves to dust during the period.

He said hamattan season comes with dust which triggers asthma as well as cases of respiratory infection such as catarrh, tonsillitis and pneumonia among other infections.

Dr Bile appealed to parent to always watch their children and ensure they wear warm clothes to minimize the likelihood of having respiratory infection.

He added that people living with sickle cell anaemia should also keep their body warm to prevent during the period.

The epidemiologist also called on people to protect their skin from the effect of the hamattan by keeping their body moist.

Bile advised members of the public on the need to wear protective glasses as well as face mask to prevent attack themselves dust.

The harmattan season is characterised by cold, haze, dust and dry weather conditions, usually accompanied by strong winds experienced mostly in northern part of the country between November and March. from inhaling