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Tribune News Network
Doha
The Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) is advising pilgrims to follow health precautions before travelling and during pilgrimage.
Dr Fahad Shaikhan, community medicine specialist, said:"There are factors that increase the risk of respiratory infectious diseases during the pilgrimage. With congestion and the large number of visitors from different parts of the world, transmission of infectious respiratory diseases is likely to increase, particularly flu, pneumococcal and acute meningitis."
He urged pilgrims to take preventive medical measures before the pilgrimage such as visiting the doctor and getting vaccinated 10 days before travelling.
He also advised the pilgrims to stay away from poorly ventilated places as good ventilation reduces the concentration of microbes in the inhaled air and thus reduce the likelihood of infection.
The community medicine specialist also urged the pilgrims who have any symptoms of flu such as high fever or cough to consult the doctors' team for the Hajj campaign.
"We advise pilgrims infected with flu and the common cold to use nose mask because this may reduce the chances of transfer of the infection to other pilgrims. We also recommend hand washing with soap and water or other disinfectants, especially after coughing or sneezing," he said.
He explained that the flu symptoms typically consist of fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, headache, muscle pain and fatigue in the body, adding that most of the affected people feel better after a week or two weeks.
Regarding pilgrims with chronic illnesses, Dr Shaikhan said:"They must adhere to preventive and curative instructions as recommended by their doctors, such as medication and diet instructions.
He stressed the importance of taking sufficient quantity of medicines, especially if the pilgrim is suffering from a disease that requires taking medication on a continuous basis, such as in the cases of heart and breathing problem, high blood pressure, kidney disease, asthma, allergies and diabetes.
He added that the pilgrim should travel with loose and light-coloured clothes, and constantly change his clothes to stay clean and drink sufficient amounts of water all the time.
He also stressed the need for the pilgrim to travel with his detailed health report which shows the disease, medicines and doses as this will help to understand diagnose and treat his case when the need arises.
