I have been to a place reputedly known all over the country and foreign, most accessible region alongside of the highway, from where the Sangri-La of the world can be touched. Categorized in the mountain region (more than 2000m) ,Daaman situated about 2350m height from sea level is really a part of paradise on the earth.
As most of the country (80% of whole area ) is hilly and mountain region, I want to present here a common health problem over this area. Round the year, excepting the 4 months of summer almost always people have to hide inside for the cool environment. So, lets discuss about some of the aspects of common nasal problems in the hilly Nepal, which are better prevented than cured!
Cases:
1. An 18 years female from Aghori Makwanpur, Nearby Daaman presented to us with history of nasal obstruction for around 2 years, on/off. She also has nasal discharge which is really disturbing her for long duration. Her voice also appears changed.
Diagnosis: chronic simple Rhinitis
2. A 43 years male from Shikharkot, Daaman tells us he catches sudden sneezing for more than 20-25 times at a time, often in cold season, followed by nasal obstruction watery nasal discharge and itching over nose, eyes and pharyngeal area. He also gets frequent colds and chronic cough. He knows these symptoms to him and his family members from his childhood.
Diagnosis: Perennial Allergic Rhinitis
3. A 22 years female from Palung, reports to us that her husband hates her because she has 2 years history of offensive foul smelling breath, but she can not smell any bad at all. She has long history of nasal obstruction but nothing comes out on sneezing and mopping except some flecks and greenish crusts.
Diagnosis: Atrophic Rhinitis
Magnitude of problem:
Everybody gets cold. Everyone’s noses are made to run. Almost 80% population in the hilly and urban region are found to have running nose, stuffy nose or with other nose problem at a time! This is most common disease prevalent all over the world! Even you who are going through this post have this sort of problem either running or the other time!
What are common nasal problems?
Nasal discharge, sneezing, nasal obstruction, headache, post-nasal irritation and discharge, heaviness of head, anosmia(loss of smell perception), foul breathe, cough, with or without fever.
What is the root cause?
Acute rhinitis are almost infective. They may be viral, bacterial or irritative. Viral infection are most common, are cured on self if various preventive measures are adopted. Almost all conditions are caught through air borne route. Bacterial conditions are more severe and can be cured by antibiotics and other methods.
Acute rhinitis may be allergic condition, for which an special gene present in that person is sensitive towards some dirts, pollens ao other special things in his surroundings. One of my relative who lives in US, comes frequently here with a dry and good nose, gets cold here and returns back with running , red and congested nose. What the hell is present here where he was grown up, to chase his nose so far!
Chronic conditions appear lately only if acute conditions do not resolve. Various predisposing factors like persistence of infection, chronic irritation with dust, nasal obstruction with other pathologies, vasomotor conditions , other systemic diseases and lack of fresh air or exercises may lead to chronicity of the nasal conditions.
What makes these simple problems worse?
Most of People especially in village area do not consult to the health worker until they fall in the bed or are fully dependent on other persons. Until they get high fever or severe pain they never care for health at all. This is what makes almost all health conditions aggravated and lead to various complications.
Almost all health conditions show a preliminary clinical features, if recognized and treated at that level can save not only budget for cure and money but also the time and health which can be utilized in goodness of the person , family and community for their holistic development!
Simple Care can prevent various complications!
As presented above, most of the conditions are avoidable, I,e, preventable and/ or curable! A simple care of self can save nine! Here are simple measures that can be followed to prevent these conditions.
1. Take care of self. Be ware of extreme cold, humidity, dusts and dirts. Take plenty of fluids.
2. Take simple measure of closing your mouth and nose while sneezing and coughing. Spit only in selective places.
3. Avoid the behavior of frequent nose pricking and avoid use of common handkerchief and towels.
4. Wash your hands with soap-water before not only meals but also before eating non-cooked foods.
5. Treatment of cases:
a. plenty of hot fluids, good nutrition, adequate rest.
b. Do steam inhalation with or without vicks to sooth your pain.
c. Avoid the factor what seems to aggravate your condition, like dirts or specific vegetable or grass after touching which you get cold.
d. Consult to health worker; they will give you some sort of antibiotics, nasal decongestants , antihistaminics and antipyretics.
e. Treat the cause which has predisposed the condition to be chronic.
f. Surgical approach in severe cases.
What if ?
Various complications may appear with lapse of time!
Sinusitis (PINAAS), pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, otitis media (infection of middle ear), asthma(in allergic cases), nasal polipy(mass coming out of nose), dental problems, and various problems thereafter.
As most of the country (80% of whole area ) is hilly and mountain region, I want to present here a common health problem over this area. Round the year, excepting the 4 months of summer almost always people have to hide inside for the cool environment. So, lets discuss about some of the aspects of common nasal problems in the hilly Nepal, which are better prevented than cured!
Cases:
1. An 18 years female from Aghori Makwanpur, Nearby Daaman presented to us with history of nasal obstruction for around 2 years, on/off. She also has nasal discharge which is really disturbing her for long duration. Her voice also appears changed.
Diagnosis: chronic simple Rhinitis
2. A 43 years male from Shikharkot, Daaman tells us he catches sudden sneezing for more than 20-25 times at a time, often in cold season, followed by nasal obstruction watery nasal discharge and itching over nose, eyes and pharyngeal area. He also gets frequent colds and chronic cough. He knows these symptoms to him and his family members from his childhood.
Diagnosis: Perennial Allergic Rhinitis
3. A 22 years female from Palung, reports to us that her husband hates her because she has 2 years history of offensive foul smelling breath, but she can not smell any bad at all. She has long history of nasal obstruction but nothing comes out on sneezing and mopping except some flecks and greenish crusts.
Diagnosis: Atrophic Rhinitis
Magnitude of problem:
Everybody gets cold. Everyone’s noses are made to run. Almost 80% population in the hilly and urban region are found to have running nose, stuffy nose or with other nose problem at a time! This is most common disease prevalent all over the world! Even you who are going through this post have this sort of problem either running or the other time!
What are common nasal problems?
Nasal discharge, sneezing, nasal obstruction, headache, post-nasal irritation and discharge, heaviness of head, anosmia(loss of smell perception), foul breathe, cough, with or without fever.
What is the root cause?
Acute rhinitis are almost infective. They may be viral, bacterial or irritative. Viral infection are most common, are cured on self if various preventive measures are adopted. Almost all conditions are caught through air borne route. Bacterial conditions are more severe and can be cured by antibiotics and other methods.
Acute rhinitis may be allergic condition, for which an special gene present in that person is sensitive towards some dirts, pollens ao other special things in his surroundings. One of my relative who lives in US, comes frequently here with a dry and good nose, gets cold here and returns back with running , red and congested nose. What the hell is present here where he was grown up, to chase his nose so far!
Chronic conditions appear lately only if acute conditions do not resolve. Various predisposing factors like persistence of infection, chronic irritation with dust, nasal obstruction with other pathologies, vasomotor conditions , other systemic diseases and lack of fresh air or exercises may lead to chronicity of the nasal conditions.
What makes these simple problems worse?
Most of People especially in village area do not consult to the health worker until they fall in the bed or are fully dependent on other persons. Until they get high fever or severe pain they never care for health at all. This is what makes almost all health conditions aggravated and lead to various complications.
Almost all health conditions show a preliminary clinical features, if recognized and treated at that level can save not only budget for cure and money but also the time and health which can be utilized in goodness of the person , family and community for their holistic development!
Simple Care can prevent various complications!
As presented above, most of the conditions are avoidable, I,e, preventable and/ or curable! A simple care of self can save nine! Here are simple measures that can be followed to prevent these conditions.
1. Take care of self. Be ware of extreme cold, humidity, dusts and dirts. Take plenty of fluids.
2. Take simple measure of closing your mouth and nose while sneezing and coughing. Spit only in selective places.
3. Avoid the behavior of frequent nose pricking and avoid use of common handkerchief and towels.
4. Wash your hands with soap-water before not only meals but also before eating non-cooked foods.
5. Treatment of cases:
a. plenty of hot fluids, good nutrition, adequate rest.
b. Do steam inhalation with or without vicks to sooth your pain.
c. Avoid the factor what seems to aggravate your condition, like dirts or specific vegetable or grass after touching which you get cold.
d. Consult to health worker; they will give you some sort of antibiotics, nasal decongestants , antihistaminics and antipyretics.
e. Treat the cause which has predisposed the condition to be chronic.
f. Surgical approach in severe cases.
What if ?
Various complications may appear with lapse of time!
Sinusitis (PINAAS), pharyngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, otitis media (infection of middle ear), asthma(in allergic cases), nasal polipy(mass coming out of nose), dental problems, and various problems thereafter.
