Experts urge precautions against cold-related ailments

Kathmandu, Jan. 6: Health experts and officials are concerned that cold waves and snowfall may cause various health issues during the mid-winter season.  They say that the number of patients affected by cold-related illnesses has increased lately.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, health problems such as cold, fever, asthma, difficulty in breathing, and hypothermia have begun to appear due to the cold.

Speaking to The Rising Nepal, Dr. Sameer Kumar Adhikari, Senior Health Administrator at the Ministry of Health and Population, informed that the government has deployed all its bodies to deal with health problems that occur in the winter season. 

Dr. Adhikari stated that in recent years, asthma, cancer, and other serious diseases have increased as air pollution rises during the winter season.

Experts also suggest that everyone should be sensitive and should  take precautions.

“Winter is a time for various health problems, including rotavirus, cold-related diarrhea, cough, sore throat, tonsillitis, pneumonia, and asthma,” said Dr. Sher Bahadur Pun, Chief of the Clinical Research Unit at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital and an infectious disease expert.

Dr.  Adhikari, Senior Health Administrator at the Ministry of Health and Population, stated that patients have been visiting hospitals with health problems such as cold, cough, sore throat, hoarseness, cold-related diarrhea, and vomiting due to cold weather.

Dr. Adhikari said that respiratory and viral problems are common during the winter season.

“With the change in weather, people visit hospitals with health problems such as seasonal flu, cold, cough, asthma, sore throat, viral infection, pneumonia, rotavirus, diarrhea, vomiting, headache, and allergies,” said Dr. Adhikari.

He also said that children, pregnant women, senior citizens, and chronically ill patients need special care during winter, as they have weaker immunity.

Since viruses are more active during the winter season, symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, fever, dry cough, headache, muscle and joint pain commonly occur, said Dr. Pun.

Experts suggest that many people ignore the flu, considering it just a common cold. However, they advise not to ignore it, as it can lead to severe pneumonia and even death.

According to Dr. Pun, seasonal flu is more common during winter. It is an infectious disease caused by the influenza virus. Similarly, cold-related diarrhea is a common health problem, especially among children, and is caused by the rotavirus, according to experts.

Experts say that rotavirus mainly affects children under the age of five, and ignoring it can lead to death. Similarly, Norovirus also causes diarrhea, vomiting, and similar health problems during the winter season. To prevent this, the government has been providing free vaccinations across the country.

Senior Health Administrator Dr. Adhikari stated that the government has recently been spreading awareness messages to the public to take precautions against health problems that arise during the winter season.

“In recent times, we have spread awareness messages to the public regarding precautions against health problems that arise during the winter season,” said Dr. Adhikari.

In the meantime, experts urge the public not to buy and consume medicines haphazardly or without a doctor’s recommendation. “If you are careful, you can avoid respiratory and viral diseases that occur during winter,” said Dr. Pun.

He also urged patients to take medicines only after consulting doctors. Similarly, people with chronic illnesses are requested to seek medical advice as soon as they develop symptoms such as a common cold or cough.

“If a normal person is infected, they can recover on their own by resting at home, eating soft foods, and getting adequate rest,” said Dr. Pun.

Dr. Adhikari urged the public to take care of themselves by using winter equipment, such as electric devices, properly, wearing warm clothes, and drinking hot water.