Features
ELECTION FEVER, TODAY’S FEVER & OTHER FEVERS
The dust has almost settled in the USA after their historic election that scored many firsts. I choose to say no more lest I am misquoted again so let me dwell on where my vote counts. Now, the eyes of the whole world is focused on a much smaller country on the coast of West Africa, a country that has a great potential to be a super-power in its own right, a country that is a haven of peace in a chaotic region.
Ghana continues to baffle the world with our own rendition of democracy and despite all the hue and cry before elections, we always stand out tall after the exercise. There is anxiety, expectation and mixed emotions as we approach Election Day. I can bet on my last Ghana pesewa that some people have developed diarrhoea that does not seem to resolve with medication, others have known no sleep for weeks and a few others jump out of bed daily with a galloping heart and drenched in sweat. This is election fever and I doubt the thermometer will be of any help when it comes to this type of fever.
These days people who had never held a thermometer in their hands suddenly hold the mandate to give you access into a facility or not. Sometimes they obviously have no idea what they are doing but COVID-19 has made it necessary that screening may include temperature checking to determine if one has a fever. Fever is one of the first symptoms/signs that heralded the new era of COVID.
There is the other fever that is extremely common and “lives” with us all year round. This fever does not occur once every four years neither did it just explode unto the scene unannounced, instead it is one of the commonest complaints that healthcare professionals are faced with daily. Let me make one point crystal clear; fever is NOT a synonym for malaria and neither are all fevers due to malaria even if you live in a malaria endemic area like ours.
A fever also referred to as pyrexia means the body temperature is above the normal of 37 degrees Celsius. It is a warning that something out of the ordinary is going on in your body. Though fever in an adult may be uncomfortable, it is usually not dangerous unless it is extremely high but for young children and infants, a slightly elevated temperature may indicate a serious condition. In newborns and elderly, temperatures below normal should also be of concern.
Our temperature may vary due to our clothing, menstrual cycle, meals, level of activity and time of day, being lowest in the morning. Some of us may find that we are often slightly warmer than others. The degree of fever does not indicate the seriousness of the underlying condition. Sometimes a serious illness may cause a low fever whereas a condition of no significance may cause a high fever. This point has a lot in common with election fever where some people who appear most excited and do all the shouting may not even be registered voters.
Remember that you may take your temperature in different parts of your body such as your armpit, mouth, ears, anus and forehead and the temperatures vary slightly at each point.
CAUSES OF FEVER
You may be gripped by election fever for different reasons; some people love the power, others a desire to be on the winning team, a few have a genuine interest to help the country and hopefully the majority of people suffering from election fever want to see a change for the better. In the same vein “medical” fever may be caused by many conditions including:
- Infections
- Viruses such as those causing the common cold or bacteria causing throat, ear infections and diarrhoea. Malaria and HIV are also culprits. You do not need any prompting to remember that the novel corona virus may also cause a fever.
- Medication
- Antibiotics, blood pressure medications and drugs for treating seizures are examples. These may cause “drug fever” due to adverse reactions, withdrawal or by the drug’s design.
- Trauma or Injury
- Heart attack, stroke and burns fall into this broad category
- Immunisation
- Others
- Gout, osteoarthritis (wear and tear disease), thyroid disease and certain cancers.
Fever may be associated with sweating, shivering, headache, muscle aches and when the fever is extremely high one may develop hallucinations, confusion, convulsion and dehydration.
HEAD FOR THE HOSPITAL
If a baby has a temperature of 38.3 degrees Celsius or above, refuses food and drinks, is irritable and unresponsive you have no business staying at home.
An adult with a fever associated with severe headache, stiff painful neck, confusion, unusual sensitivity to light should be talking to a healthcare professional.
In this day if you have a fever with a headache and cough and any of the other symptoms that may point to COVID-19, do stay at home and seek the necessary assistance first by telephone. If that is not available to you then go to the nearest health facility.
Your doctor will ask you questions about your fever, examine you, probably request for some tests and then give you medication if required.
Sometimes your fever may last for more than 3 weeks and your doctor may not be able to determine the cause after extensive evaluation. This condition is referred to as pyrexia or fever of unknown origin (PUO).
LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS
- Drink plenty of fluids, it will control the associated risk of dehydration
- Rest – this will help you recover while the reduced physical activity also reduces the chance of increasing your temperature further
- Stay cool by dressing in light clothing and avoid hot areas
- Soak yourself in lukewarm water. This reduces the fever. Using cold water could cause shivering raising your temperature even higher.
- Reduce incidence of fever; by living a healthy lifestyle, keeping your surroundings clean and washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water (often), you will reduce the incidence of contracting some of the common causes of fever.
- Do not forget the other Ws; Wear your mask and Watch your distance (physical distancing) wherever you go especially as you go to cast your vote.
Remember no matter how high your election fever may be, only PEACE can ensure good health and development.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd/Mobissel/St. Andrews Clinic
(www.healthessentialsgh.com)
*Dr. Essel is a Medical Doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy, fitness nutrition and corrective exercise.
Thought for the week –“fever persisting for more than three days may need a health professional’s care. Do not assume it is malaria.”
Note that ELECTION CAMPAIGNS & VOTING; NOT AN EXCUSE TO ABANDON COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
Reference:
- www.mayoclinic.com
- What is fever? By Peter Crosta for Medical News Today
My focus today is on eye care and therapy among Ghanaian migrants in Finland, as I continue to move away from the subject of personalities or groups and their accomplishments within the Ghanaian community in Finland that I have been writing on.
Eye conditions are remarkably common in the world. Experts say that those who live long enough will experience at least one eye condition during their lifetime. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), globally, at least 1 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment that could have been prevented or has yet to be addressed.
In recent times, I have been thinking about eye problems among Ghanaian migrants in Finland about how they take care of their eyes and their general wellbeing. Health experts say that in the absence of timely detection, reduced or absent eyesight can have long-term personal and economic effects.
Finnish healthcare services
Finland has a very good healthcare delivery system and social services accessible to all residents in the country. Information about healthcare delivery services is provided for every citizen.
Many migrants, including those in the Ghanaian community, are aware of these opportunities and are expected to take advantage of such chances.
Experts say that vision impairment affects people of all ages, with the majority being over the age of 50. Cataracts and uncorrected refractive errors are estimated to be the leading causes of vision impairment; other causes for vision impairment cannot be ignored. Age-related degeneration, glaucoma, long-standing systemic conditions like diabetes causing diabetic retinopathy, infectious diseases of the eye and trauma to the eye are all key causes for vision impairment that need to be addressed.
When it comes to Ghanaian migrants, I have been asking myself what kind of challenges they may face in accessing health information and care services. Do they adhere to calls or requests/invitations to go for check-ups in order to detect health defects early enough to enhance a successful treatment?
Migrants’ vulnerability
Research has shown that migrants or minorities are vulnerable and they face challenges accessing information, including language barriers in Finland. There was potentially lower levels of awareness, perceptions of risk, and misconceptions not addressed in public health guidance and the national response.
Glaucoma is prevalent, and although the Finnish healthcare system covers the whole population and its services are mainly tax-financed, criticism have been levelled at unequal access to care and large variations in the distribution of healthcare services. Research indicates that migrants or people with a culturally and linguistically diverse background face challenges in accessing such information. The Finnish government and health authorities have been promoting digitalisation of personal health records and aspects of healthcare services, although older Russian migrants, for example, face barriers.
Enhancing inclusion
I think Ghanaian migrants in Finland should see the need to adhere to invitations by health personnel to undergo routine medical checks at points in time. I know Ghanaian migrants generally cooperate on such issues.
All the same, I think it is pertinent for migrant associations to help the health authorities and formally create awareness among their members and other migrants, especially in collaboration with some Finnish institutions, for the good of all.
This will no doubt enhance inclusion of migrants in Finnish society. As I wrote previously, the role of migrant associations acting as bridge-builders for the integration and inclusion of migrants through participation in the decision-making process and by acting as a representative voice is highly appreciated in Finland.
The social media outlets could be used as an important means for disseminating information and it could be a key medium through which migrant groups or associations and other institutions could educate people.
Thank you!
Dinah came to our home early the following morning, as Martin was having breakfast. He congratulated her for qualifying as a doctor, and chatted briefly with her about her new posting and arrangements for starting work.
Then he left for work, hoping to see her ‘later’. For the next three hours I had a heart to heart chat with her, and she got a feel of the reality I was facing.
“Sarah, I’m concerned about the situation in your home. Martin seems to have decided that he doesn’t need a wife after all, that he is better off enjoying life with his beer colleagues and girls. I don’t think even his parents can influence him. But let’s continue to pray, and act with wisdom, especially in how you talk and how you react to provocation. Although the situation seems bad, I’m glad to notice that it has not affected you mentally.
Now that you have virtually secured admission to the university, you must stay focused on getting the degree. You have to create a life for yourself. Let’s start planning.”
Paul was waiting at Royalty restaurant when we got there. We had a great time. Paul asked Dinah quite a lot of questions about her experiences with the medical course, and she was happy to share them.
I had the greatest surprise when I found out that he wasn’t, as I thought, an ordinary clerk and driver who distributed bills and collected payments for his employers, but the owner of the company. And his company didn’t just collect rubbish and dump them, but was also involved in recycling.
And beyond that, he was helping industrial establishments to deal with chemical waste. After lunch, he first dropped me at home, and took Dinah to my parents’ place.
The following morning, Martin announced, with a sour face, that his mother would arrive in the evening, and would spend a few days. I wasn’t expecting much to change, but I got ready to do some shopping and cook some meal.
Paul asked me what I was doing the rest of the day, and I told her that my main reason for coming to Takoradi is to spend some time with you.
So he suggested that I go with him to the office, so I did. First of all, his office is quite impressive. I spent a couple of hours on the Internet whilst he worked, then we went to the Sports Club.
Nice place. I met two doctors who want to recruit me to work for their company, which owns twenty clinics around Ghana. We left the club at about seven-thirty, bought some chips and grilled chicken, and went to his place to eat. Sarah, Paul is one very humble but really impressive guy.
He’s picking me up for lunch at twelve-thirty.
“Ei Sarah, you seem to be making some headway.”
“You must be joking. He told me something very interesting, which I will discuss fully with you tomorrow.”
“And what could that possibly be?”
“We will discuss it tomorrow. But clean your ears out. It is very interesting.”
After a couple of days, Martin had finished breakfast and was about to leave, when his mother motioned to him to wait.
“When will you come back this evening? And in what state will you be? What’s happening to you, Martin? Where do you go after work every evening?”
“Mama,” he said as he moved to the door, “I’m sorry I have to leave. Moreover, I’m not a boy anymore. I’m quite capable of managing my affairs.” But his mother blocked the door.
“If you are capable of managing your own affairs, why did you call to make all those complaints about Sarah? Since I’ve been here, I’ve noticed that the place is always clean, this stupid lifestyle, or we will force you to change.”
“What will you do, Mama, beat me up?”
His Mama surprised him with a big, nasty slap, nearly flooring him. Very angry, he picked his briefcase and went out.
He came home very late as usual, ate and dropped off to sleep. The following morning he confronted me as I was preparing his breakfast.
“Sarah, what nonsense have you been telling my mother? If you can’t keep your mouth shut, then it’s best you go to your parents. After all, even though our parents gave their blessing to our coming together, we are not officially married. So you are free to leave. I will live my life the way I want.”
He paused when his mother appeared.
“Martin, Sarah hasn’t said one word about you since I’ve been here. But you, Martin, you called and made all kinds of allegations against her. And since I’ve been here, I’ve found out the truth. And you have the nerve to ask her to go away? Now I understand why her father wouldn’t give you his full blessing. Don’t worry. I’m leaving this morning. Immediately I get home, your father and I will go to her parents and apologise to them.”
Nice place. I met two doctors who want to recruit me to work for their company, which owns twenty clinics around Ghana. We left the club at about seven-thirty, bought some chips and grilled chicken, and went to his place to eat. Sarah, Paul is one very humble but really impressive guy.
Surprisingly, Martin was not happy that his mother was coming to spend some days with us. Dinah called as I was about to leave.
“Dinah, I was just leaving home to do some shopping. Martin’s mother is coming here this evening, and will be spending a few days, so I want to do some cooking. What’s up?”
“Well, I had a great evening yesterday. On the way to the hotel, then I will personally come back and take her home.”
“Martin, I came here from Koforidua three days ago, not because I have nothing to do at home, but because your father and I thought we should find out how you and Sarah are doing. Yet since I’ve been here, you’ve not sat down with me for even fifteen minutes.”
“Mama, I’m getting late for work. Can’t this wait till when I get back? There’s always good food available. She washes your clothes and even irons them. And what’s your response? You’ve turned yourself into a ghost, leaving home first thing in the morning and coming home late, every day. All those tales you told us about Sarah, they have turned out to be lies. Listen, you either change. I hope you understand the implications of the behaviour you are putting up. You are not only rejecting Sarah, you are rejecting your parents. You can go away. Sarah will take me to the Accra station.”
To my great surprise, he left.
By EKow de Heer
