Sticky heat by day, light fog at dawn and a chill after dark: as late autumn (hemanta) sets in, the air grows drier and dustier and some familiar illnesses return. In an article for Prothom Alo, Dr Shahnoor Sharmin, professor of medicine at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, set out the common ailments of the season and how to guard against them.
First come colds and flu-like viral infections, with sudden body ache, headache, fever with shivering, sore throat, dry cough and a blocked nose. Most of these fevers settle within four or five days, she writes, but the cough, weakness and loss of appetite can linger. Paracetamol-type medicine for fever and pain, and medicine for cough or throat infection, should be taken on a doctor's advice, along with rest, fluids and nourishing food.
Dry air and dust push allergies to their peak. People allergic to cold or dust, and those with asthma, may see more sneezing, breathlessness, sinusitis and tonsil trouble, and bronchitis or pneumonia can follow. She advises wearing a mask outdoors and keeping the home free of dust, and seeing a doctor without delay if breathlessness comes with fever or a heavy cough.
Falling humidity also dries and roughens the skin, cracks the lips and can worsen itching or eczema; plenty of fluids and a good moisturiser or glycerine help. As the cold sets in, joint pain and muscle strain increase, so she recommends warm clothes, gloves and socks, warm water, and seeing a doctor early if needed.
Her warning on dengue is plain: it is now a year-round disease and has not stopped this autumn. Anyone with a fever should be tested for dengue early, because dengue and other viral fevers are often hard to tell apart, and a negative test does not mean the patient is entirely safe.
Her checklist: light warm clothing when needed, warm water, a mask outdoors, plenty of fluids, warm drinks or soup, nourishing food rich in vitamin C, care for the skin, a clean home, and medicine only on a doctor's advice. Following that much, she writes, keeps most of the season's illnesses at bay.
Photo: Dhaka Medical College, A.M.R. / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5)
Source: Prothom Alo
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