Rainy season is that which brings happiness to majority of people, especially farmers who have their crops grown, in expectation of bumper harvest soonest, but as good as it is, the season also comes with its own health conditions among which is common catarrh which can cause an ear infection.

Common catarrh, simply put by Dr. Orimadegun, a Consultant Paediatrician, at the University College Hospital, (UCH) Ibadan, is nasal discharge, which is commonly called or known as common cold or coryza.

The paediatrician pointed out that common catarrh is usually the starting point of other respiratory infections such as pneumonia, as most children who end up with pneumonia usually start off with coryza.

According to the medical practitioner, common catarrh is common among children, particularly during harmattan and rainy season.

The culprit of common catarrh, as added by Orimadegun are viruses which include syncitial virus and influenza virus, among others.

And most children who develop coryza according to him, usually get it from adults – care givers at home and daycare centres. But most cases of coryza, the expert said, are self limiting, that is, they naturally wane if the child’s immunity is optimal.

However, common catarrh, as explained by the doctor may become complicated with secondary bacteria infection, in which it could spread from the nostrils to the lower parts of the respiratory system - the pharynx, larynx and ultimately the lungs, causing damages.

Symptoms or signs of common catarrh may include sneezing, nasal blockage, difficulty in breathing, mouth opening, low grade fever and inability of the child to sleep well because of the blocked nostrils.

As was earlier mentioned, complications can set in with second bacteria infection and when such complications occur, there may be drooling of saliva, which indicates the child’s inability to swallow.

Dr. Orimadegun sounded a note of warning to parents who notice recurrence of common cold or catarrh in their child(ren) not to take it with levity, treating it like just one of those things, but take such a child to the hospital to be investigated properly by doctor his or her for possibility of foreign bodies, a tumor or polyp in his/her nasal cavity.

Common cold or catarrh which occurs three to four times within a month, according to Orimadegun should attract such suspicion.

Also, another complication is that secondary bacteria infection could spread to the middle ear, causing otitismedia, that is, middle ear infection.

Because most cases of common cold or catarrh are due to viral infection, there is no definite antibiotic to treat it, but most physicians, according to Dr. Orimadegun will prescribe antibiotics with anticipated infection or already complicated cases with secondary bacteria infection.

The main treatment, as given by him, which mothers should know and make use of is steam inhalation, generous fluid intake, usage of Vitamin C, whether tablets or syrup, depending on the child’s age.

Other measures that are often taken include the use of nasal discongestants (nose drops), that is, drugs that are used to stop congestion, but Orimadegun sounded a note of caution in the usage of these drugs because it could result in rebound congestion i.e. worsened experience of nasal blockage after the use of such drugs.

Parasite worms in your intestines Are you a good host?

Parasites are not great conversation pieces during dinner (neither is constipation) and yet these are real creatures that reside in our very being, making themselves at home, eating what we eat, breeding with wild abandon and making us sick and unhealthy our entire lives and we are not even aware of their existence!

Let's look at a few of the common parasites that invade our intestines:

Hookworm - This is a parasitic nematode worm that lives in our intestinal wall and feeds on our blood. These creatures infect 800 million people worldwide. Due to their voracious appetite for sucking blood, they can cause an iron deficiency anaemia.

Roundworm - It is unsegmented, bilaterally symmetric and has a complete digestive system. It has no circulatory or respiratory system and nutrients are absorbed via fluid. A typical symptom of a roundworm infection is upper abdominal discomfort, asthma, eye pain, insomnia and rashes. In large numbers, they can block the intestinal tract, cause appendicitis, hemorrhagic pancreatitis and many more serious conditions.

Pinworm - This worm infects one out of five children. Symptoms are irritation of the anus or vagina, digestive disorder, insomnia, irritability or nervousness.

Whipworm - Infection occurs through digestion of eggs found in raw foods like beans, rice and other grains. It infects the large intestine with symptoms including bloody stools, pain in lower abdomen, weight loss nausea and anemia.

Tapeworm - This type of worm anchors itself to the intestinal wall with suckers or hooks. Unlike hookworm, it consumes our digested food. When these creatures become large, they block the bowel, robbing us of nutrients.

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