As the annual harmattan season gradually sets in and the weather gets colder, the incidence of several respiratory infections and different types of illness will be on the rise during this period. Naturally, increased respiratory tract infections are associated with cold temperature and low humidity.
The harmattan is a season in the West African sub-continent, which occurs between the end of November and the middle of March. It is characterised by dry and dusty northeasterly trade wind, which blows from the Sahara Desert over West Africa into the Gulf of Guinea. It is cold in most places, especially in the morning and night, till daybreak, depending on circumstances.
According to health authorities, a common type of medical emergency during this period is hypothermia, which is very common during the cold weather. It comes with disorientation.
Hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when your body temperature drops; your heart, the nervous system and other organs can’t work normally. Hypothermia is often caused by exposure to cold weather or immersion in cold water.
The body extremities, such as the hands and feet, are sometimes too cold to generate unpleasant symptoms. Babies and the elderly are particularly prone to hypothermia (core body temperature below 35 degrees centigrade) due to sub optimal temperature regulating mechanism.
An Obstreptician at Jefis Hospital, Alagbado, Lagos, Dr. Tunde Amusa, says someone with hypothermia usually is not aware of his or her condition because the symptoms often begin gradually. Also, the confused thinking associated with hypothermia prevents self-awareness. The confused thinking can also lead to risk-taking
behaviours.
“Shivering is likely the first thing you will notice as the temperature starts to drop because it is your body’s automatic defence against cold temperature in an attempt to warm itself. You also notice slurred speech or mumbling, slow, shallow breathing, weak pulse, clumsiness or lack of coordination,“
he says.
Shivering is likely the first thing you will notice as the temperature starts to drop because it is your body’s automatic defence against cold temperature in an attempt to warm itself
Amusa says someone experiencing symptoms of mild hypothermia, has his body temperature between 32C and 35C, but if his temperature drops to below 32C, he would usually stop shivering completely and may pass out.
“It is a sign that his condition is getting worse and emergency medical help is needed,”
he adds.
An Ear, Nose and Throat specialist with the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, Dr Adekunle Adeyemo, notes that babies, because they lose heat faster than adults, are more prone to hypothermia. The same situation obtains with elderly people, who are inactive and don’t eat well.
He says, “Even they may look healthy, but their skin will feel cold. They may also be limp, unusually quiet and refuse to feed. So, in case you notice these symptoms in them, you need to warm the person up. For babies, you can move them indoors and remove any wet clothing and dry them. Wrap them in blankets or flannels. And for elderly people, you may try to give them a warm non-alcoholic drink, but only if they can swallow normally.
“Also endeavour to give them energy food that contains sugar, but only if they can swallow normally. If the person can’t be moved indoors, find something for them to rest on to protect them from the cold ground, like a towel or a blanket. If they don’t appear to be breathing and you know how to do CPR, you can give them, but you must continue this until they feel normal or get medical attention.”
Adeyemo adds that there are things one must avoid because they can make hypothermia worse and these include putting the person into a hot bath, or massaging their legs or even using heating
lamps.
“Don’t give them alcohol to drink because these actions can cause the heart to suddenly stop beating; that is cardiac arrest or even death,” he says.
