The recent wave of dust that hit several Saudi cities in recent weeks might have caused several illnesses, especially among young children and elderly people. According to Sameh Younis, a physician at Riadah Polyclinic, dust can bring with it a pneumococcal microbe that hits the respiratory system. “Some types of these bacteria can cause serious diseases, while others can lead to death, if not treated properly with antibiotics taken on a regular basis,” he warned. “Some of the diseases that the pneumococcal microbe can cause are bronchitis, pneumonia, blood poisoning and meningitis B.” He said these diseases play a major role in the high death rates among children less than two years old. Doctors sometimes refer to the microbe as “the forgotten disease”. “It is called so because it is so common,” said Baher Massoud, medical director for Wyeth Research Company. He added that some doctors think that antibiotics can take care of it, but these antibiotics could backfire if misused. Massoud also added that the disease does not only cause inflammation of the mucous membrane or middle ear, but it can also travel to the blood through mucous membranes and cause blood poisoning. “As a result, (the microbe) eventually gets to the brain and causes meningitis.” Statistics of the World Health Organization (WHO) show that one million children die each year because of pneumococcal diseases, while many more become disabled. “The pneumococcal microbe is the main cause for meningitis disease in the world for children under two years of age,” said Massoud. “The number of children who get infected with this microbe worldwide is 100 children per 100.000 children.” Younis gave out two pieces of advice for parents to protect their children from the disease: “The most important thing is personal hygiene, and of course the use of vaccine,” he said. “Vaccination is the only treatment suitable for children under two years of age and is the only effective way of protection.” He also warned that the possibility of children under two years old getting the disease is higher, but children between two and six are also vulnerable. “In fact, we have seen some cases of this disease in children over two, but they were fewer,” said Younis. “The disease gets less dangerous as a person gets older. Then it appears again in the mid sixties.” Massoud said the disease can be transmitted from one person to another through air, contagion and sometimes food, although this is very rare. As for people over sixty, Younis said those suffering from diabetes or asthma are the most susceptible. He added that such diseases would become more malignant if neglected. __
