Parents in Kiambu county have been advised to avoid exposing their children to too much dust to prevent them from developing allergies that could lead to chronic diseases such as asthma.
The Nursing Service manager at Kiambu Level 5 Hospital Teresia Mbua said dust allergies are common in the region and oftentimes are confused for colds, and therefore parents should be careful.
She said if not diagnosed early, they could cause diseases such as asthma which is incurable.
Mbua explained that asthma was an obstruction of the bronchial tube which allows air in and out of the lungs and the symptoms might never be noticed unless triggered. Dust, she noted, was one of the common triggers of the disease.
“Asthma is a very serious disease as much as people confuse it with allergy it is an incurable disease that once contracted one has to live with it forever,” she told HiviSasa.com on Saturday.
Mbua said the remedy was to ensure the house is dust free while ensuring that there was free circulation of air.
The medic further said since children are more susceptible as their lungs were sensitive, they should spend most of their time in dust free environments while indoors.
She advised parents to ensure that bedding such as pillow cases are dusted weekly and if possible avoid carpeted rooms because they are prone to absorbing dust.
They should also ensure that children are kept warm always to prevent them from contracting unnecessary ailments.
Stephanie Karau urged parents to take their children for health checks and seek more information on allergies.