What to Do During Seasonal Disease Outbreaks (Harmattan Season Diseases)

The Harmattan wind has arrived. You wake up in the morning and the air is dry, your lips are cracked, and everything in your house is covered in a fine layer of dust. From roughly November to March, Nigeria experiences this unique season where the dry, dusty trade winds blow from the Sahara Desert. While the cooler mornings can be pleasant, this season brings a specific set of health challenges that can affect your entire family.

During this time, hospitals often see a spike in specific illnesses. If you live in a rural community where the clinic is far, or in a busy city where traffic makes visiting a doctor difficult, this season can be stressful. You might worry about whether that cough is just “dust cough” or something more serious.

This blog post from MyCyberClinics is your guide to navigating the Harmattan season safely. We will look at the most common diseases that thrive in this weather, how to prevent them cheaply, and how to use our web and mobile app to get fast medical advice without leaving your home.

The Dust and the Danger: Common Harmattan Diseases

The dry wind does more than just make your skin ashy. It carries dust, pollen, and bacteria across long distances. The lack of humidity also dries out our nose and throat, which are our body’s first line of defense against germs.

Here are the main health threats during this season:

• Respiratory Infections: This is the most common issue. The dust irritates the lungs and throat, leading to severe catarrh, coughs, and sneezing. For people with asthma, the dust can trigger dangerous attacks.
• Meningitis: This is a very serious concern, especially in the “Meningitis Belt” which covers many Northern Nigerian states. The World Health Organization notes that large outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis often occur during the dry season because the dry air damages the lining of the nose and throat, allowing bacteria to invade the bloodstream.
• Conjunctivitis (Apollo): The dust carries bacteria and viruses that infect the eyes, causing them to turn red, itch, and produce discharge.
• Dry Skin and Dehydration: The dry air sucks moisture from the body, leading to painful cracked feet, lips, and dehydration, which weakens the immune system.

Why Care is Difficult During This Season

Getting treated during a seasonal outbreak is often harder than usual.

• Overwhelmed Clinics: Because so many people get sick at the same time (flu season), local Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) can become overcrowded. You might wait for hours just to see a nurse.
• Cost of Medications: The high demand for cough syrups, eye drops, and antibiotics can sometimes make prices go up in local chemist shops.
• Confusion: It is easy to confuse a simple cold with something dangerous like meningitis or Lassa fever (which also occurs in the dry season). This confusion often leads people to stay home when they should be seeking help.

Your Harmattan Survival Kit: Low-Cost Prevention

You do not need a lot of money to protect yourself. Most of these steps rely on changes in habit and simple household items.

1. Protect Your Airways The dust is the enemy. When you are sweeping your compound, walking on a dusty road, or riding an okada, wear a face mask. If you do not have a medical mask, tie a clean handkerchief or scarf over your nose and mouth. This simple barrier keeps the dust out of your lungs.

2. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate Water is your best medicine. Drink more water than you think you need. This keeps the lining of your nose and throat moist, making it harder for germs to enter. It also helps your skin stay healthy.

3. Manage the Temperature The weather can be tricky; it is cold in the morning and hot in the afternoon.

• Wear layers (like a sweater over a shirt) so you can adjust as the day gets hotter.
• Avoid sleeping on the bare floor, as it gets very cold at night, which can worsen respiratory issues like pneumonia in children.

4. Fight “Apollo” (Eye Infections)

• Wash your face and eyes frequently with clean water.
• Do not rub your eyes, even if they itch. Rubbing pushes the dust and germs deeper.

5. Fire Safety Because everything is dry, fires spread fast. Be extremely careful with bush burning, cigarettes, or cooking fires near dry grass. Burns are a common and tragic injury during this season.

When to Seek Help: Distinguishing Minor from Major

How do you know if you just have a “Harmattan cold” or if you need a doctor?

Use the MyCyberClinics App for Clarity This is where technology saves you money and stress. Instead of guessing, you can use the MyCyberClinics web or mobile app.

• Chat with Chioma: Our health assistant, Chioma, is available 24/7 on the app. If you are unsure about your symptoms, tell Chioma. For example, “I have a stiff neck and a high fever.” Chioma will analyze this and instantly help connect you to the right licensed doctor on our platform.
• No Phone Calls Needed: You do not need to look for a phone number or worry about call credit. Everything happens within the app.

Watch Out for These Danger Signs:

• Stiff Neck with Fever: If you or your child has a high fever and cannot bend the neck forward comfortably, this is a sign of Meningitis. Seek help immediately.
• Wheezing: If a cough comes with a whistling sound when breathing, it might be an asthma attack or severe bronchitis.
• Eye Pain with blurred vision: Red eyes are common, but if your vision goes blurry or the pain is severe, consult a doctor to prevent permanent damage.

Common Myths About Harmattan Health

Myth (What People Say)	Fact (The Truth)
“The cold breeze enters your body and causes malaria.”	Fact: Malaria is only caused by female Anopheles mosquitoes. However, mosquitoes might seek warmth indoors during the cold season, so you still need your net!
“If you have Apollo, looking at someone gives it to them.”	Fact: You cannot catch Apollo by looking at someone. You catch it by touching an infected person’s hands or items (like a towel) and then touching your own eyes.
“Rubbing kerosene on the chest cures chest congestion.”	Fact: This is dangerous and ineffective. Kerosene can burn the skin and the fumes are harmful to inhale.

What You Can Do Today

Prepare your home and family now before the dust gets worse.

1. Download MyCyberClinics: Go to your app store or web browser and register. It is better to have the app ready before you get sick.
2. Stock Up on Vaseline or Shea Butter: These are cheap and essential for preventing cracked lips and feet, which can become infected.
3. Check Your Windows: If your windows don’t close tightly, hang a slightly damp curtain or cloth over them. This catches the dust before it enters your room.
4. Wash Your Hands Often: Since dust carries germs, washing your hands frequently with soap is the easiest way to stay healthy.

The Harmattan season is a part of our life in Nigeria, but getting sick doesn’t have to be. With a little preparation and the right medical support from MyCyberClinics, you can enjoy the cool breeze without the worry.

Do not guess with seasonal symptoms. If you have a persistent cough, red eyes, or a fever that worries you, log in to the MyCyberClinics web or mobile app today. Let Chioma assist you in finding the right licensed doctor for a quick, affordable consultation.