Hajj, - Common Health Issues During Hajj

RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION
People from all over the world bring with them all kinds of
infections, and the unavoidable closeness of the hundreds of thousands
of Hujjaj facilitates easy spread of those illnesses. Fatigue, and
lack of sleep from the physically demanding regimen of Hajjrites as
well as the over-enthusiastic exertions in salah and devotions, lower
one's immunity and resistance, thereby making one more vulnerable to
disease. Acute respiratory infection is very common. Epidemics of
flu-like illnesses are also very common.
The key point here is that nearly all-upper respiratory tract
ijifections (URI) are viral. They will resolve spontaneously, and
require no antibiotic treatment. Patients should seek care only if
they experience symptoms consistent with complications of URI such as
prolonged illness with purulent nasal secretion, fever, and facial
pain; isolated sore throat with fever; shortening of breath;
productive cough with fever or shortening of breath, or the subjective
feeling of a severe illness. Try symptomatic measures to minimize the
symptoms of sore throat or flu, as follows:
Drink lots of clear fluids (water, juice, Sprite).
Take acetaminophen or paracetamol to reduce pain and fever. For a
cough try an over-the-counter cough suppressant. For sore throat:
gargle with salt water; suck on ice cubes or lozenges; drink hot water
with lemon and honey. Wash your hands often. Flu is spread through the
air by coughing or sneezing. It may also spread by hand contact.
HEAT ILLNESSES
Not all types of heat illnesses are mentioned here to avoid confusion
or unnecessary details. It should be made clear, however, that heat
can present major challenges to persons making Hajj, and that they
should take such illnesses seriously.
HEAT EXHAUSTION
Commonly caused by dehydration and loss of body salts. It is
manifested by weakness, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomitting, and
diarrhea. An increased body temperature and pulse rate may be present.
The treatment of heat exhaustion is by resting, getting out of the
heat/sun, sponging the body with water and fanning it, and
aggressively replacing fluids and salts. If not taken seriously, this
can progress to heat stroke. Patients diagnosed as suffering from heat
exhaustion should be admitted to hospital where they are covered with
large sheets of wet gauze and fans used to aid cooling. IV-fluid
should be administered and a fluid balance chart kept monitoring urine
output. Nearly all patients recover and are discharged within 24
hours. Patients must be transferred immediately to the nearest health
care center.
HEATSTROKE
In this condition the body loses its ability to regulate temperature
and the body temperature soars, often to above 106 degrees. Sweating
may or may not be present. The hallmarks of heat stroke are physical
collapse and mental deterioration ranging from confusion to coma. This
is a medical emergency and must be treated aggressively with rapid
cooling and IV-fluids if available. If not, deathor permanent damage
to the kidneys, heart, or liver may result. Emergency treatment can
consist of cooling in whatever water is available or removing
clothingand wetting/fanning the body. If able to drink, give the
victim water, or oral rehydration formula.
All patients diagnosed as suffering from heat stroke should be cooled
on the specially designed MakkahBody Cooling Unit (BCU). This achieves
rapid reduction of the body temperature by evaporation from the warm
skin; the skin temperature is kept at 30-32 C (84-90 F) to enhance
vasodilatation and increase the heat flow.
PREVENTING HEAT ILLNESS
Even marginal dehydration interferes with the body's ability to
regulate temperature. It also makes a mild diarrheal illness more
likely to become serious. In hot climates you should always consume
enough water so that you must urinate every two to three hours. If
your urine becomes dark yellow it means that you are getting
dehydrated or that you are getting jaundiced! Here are some preventive
measures that help you reduce the burden of heat:
* Don't be exposed to direct sunlight but rather use an umbrella or
other protective gadget
* Don't leave your kids is unventilated vehicles
* Drink plenty of water, even if you are not thirsty (preferably Zam-zam water)
* Keep a close watch on children to be sure they do the same
Reduce physical activities by:
* Not walking for long periods. Rather ride any available vehicle
* Trying to avoid crowded places as much as you can and not rush when
performing rites
* In case of weakness (e.g. chronically-ill patient) and if you can't
handle the crowd during stoning, it is permissible for you to go to
Mina at the end of the night to stone the Jamra before the arrival of
the crowd
* Taking enough time for rest and sleep as needed