Sultan Ayoub Meo, MBBS, PhD, FRCP, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Mohammad Fahad A Al-Kheraiji, MBBS St, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Pak J Med Sci. 2013 Apr;29(2):642-6. doi: 10.12669/pjms.292.3065.
Sandstorms are metrological events and frequently occur in many regions throughout the world. Sandstorms are a main source of long-distance transport of dust, air pollution and cause various health problems. This study aimed to investigate the acute respiratory and general health complaints in subjects exposed to sandstorm at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The present descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during the period March 2011- June 2012. We selected 517 (308 males, 59.58%) and (209 females, 40.42%), apparently healthy volunteers with mean age 28.6± 3.14 years, who had single outside exposure to sandstorm for the period of 24±2.68 minutes. The acute respiratory and general health complaints were recorded through a comprehensive questionnaire.
A large proportion of the subjects who were exposed to sandstorm had complaints of cough 247 (47.77%), runny nose 264(51.06%), wheeze 173(33.46%), acute asthmatic attack 108 (20.88%), eye irritation / redness 252(48.74%), headache 179 (34.62%), body ache 199 (38.5%), sleep disturbance 157(30.36%) and psychological disturbances 194 (37.52%).
Exposure to sandstorm causes cough, runny nose, wheeze, acute asthmatic attack, eye irritation / redness, headache, body ache, sleep and psychological disturbances. These results indicate that sandstorm is a prolific source of respiratory and general ailments. It is therefore, suggested that an unnecessary exposure to sandstorm must be avoided.
沙尘暴是一种气象事件，在世界许多地区经常发生。沙尘暴是远距离输运沙尘、造成空气污染的主要来源，并引发各种健康问题。本研究旨在调查沙特阿拉伯利雅得地区暴露于沙尘暴人群的急性呼吸道和一般健康投诉。
本描述性研究于 2011 年 3 月至 2012 年 6 月在沙特阿拉伯利雅得的沙特国王大学医学院生理学系进行。我们选择了 517 名（308 名男性，占 59.58%）和 209 名（209 名女性，占 40.42%）显然健康的志愿者，平均年龄为 28.6±3.14 岁，单次户外暴露于沙尘暴的时间为 24±2.68 分钟。通过综合问卷记录急性呼吸道和一般健康投诉。
暴露于沙尘暴的受试者中，有很大一部分人出现咳嗽 247 例（47.77%）、流涕 264 例（51.06%）、喘息 173 例（33.46%）、急性哮喘发作 108 例（20.88%）、眼睛刺激/发红 252 例（48.74%）、头痛 179 例（34.62%）、身体疼痛 199 例（38.5%）、睡眠障碍 157 例（30.36%）和心理障碍 194 例（37.52%）。
暴露于沙尘暴会引起咳嗽、流涕、喘息、急性哮喘发作、眼睛刺激/发红、头痛、身体疼痛、睡眠和心理障碍。这些结果表明，沙尘暴是呼吸道和一般疾病的主要来源。因此，建议避免不必要的沙尘暴暴露。
