A dust storm is likely to hit Riyadh region, the Civil Defense has warned. It said visibility will be low and the dust storm will be accompanied by powerful and robust winds of up to 65 km per hour. To safeguard from the impending sandstorm the best possible measure for the asthmatic or people with respiratory problems would be to protect one's nose and mouth from dusty weather conditions, doctors say. Dr. Rajshekhar Reddy of Shifa Al-Jazeera Polyclinic in downtown Batha said the Saudi headdress would be the most ideal dress to cover nose and mouth while outside the house. “The Saudi headdress – ghotra that covers both nose and mouth will be most ideal to protect against the dusty weather condition,” Dr. Reddy said. He, however said although there are masks available at medical stores some with ultra filter that hinder all impurities a clean cotton cloth will be enough to cover one's nose and mouth. Ultra filter masks cost SR20 to SR22 while normal masks are cheap and can be had for SR1 or SR2. He said due to sandstorm people also vulnerable to rhinitis, sinusitis and other chest infections. Exposure to dusty weather conditions would also cause skin allergies, he warned. He said asthmatics and people with a history of respiratory problem should seek medical advice from their family doctor in case of severity of the problem. Dr. Suresh Ramakrishna, a pediatrician, suggested that parents should take care of their children by not exposing them to the dusty weather condition. However, he said those already outside their houses should use masks, especially the wet to keep themselves well protected from sandstorm. There was a remarkable increase in the number of cases reported at the clinic this year, he said. After being exposed to sandstorm the people come to the clinic with the most common symptoms such as cough and sneezing, he said. “People with respiratory distress or a feeling of chest-tightness should use broncho-dilator for quick relief,” he said. He said usually the children with a history of respiratory problems might suffer from disturbed night sleep and cough because the respiratory muscle would be more active.
