DUBAI // A new study warns that ignoring persistent runny noses and sneezing could lead to longer term conditions such as asthma and depression.
The Allergies in the Middle East survey of five countries - the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon and Iran - warned doctors and patients of the detrimental effects nasal allergies caused by dust and other environmental pollution were having on work productivity and academic performance.
The study by the pharmaceutical company Takeda was released to about 400 doctors, researchers and officials of pharmaceutical companies on the opening day of a three-day GCC symposium on ear, nose and throat (ENT) disorders.
"Nasal allergies are spreading within the community here because of dust, environmental pollution from industries and the humidity," said Dr Hussain Abdul Rahman, the chairman of the symposium and the ENT head at Dubai Hospital.
"It also increases here because of the closed environment of big buildings where people stay without proper ventilation. For small children, it can affect their hearing, so it affects learning and speech. For adults, it affects their daily life and work."
The Middle East accounts for 10 per cent of the 400 million people across the world who suffer from nasal allergies. Dr Rahman believes the figure is rising.
The new study, he hoped, would raise awareness about such problems.
The survey interviewed 7,411 households in the region from June to August last year.
Of those reached in the phone and door-to-door survey, 501 agreed to participate in a more in-depth study.
Complaints ranged from nasal congestion, headaches, watery eyes and sleep disruption.
Sufferers in the UAE said the worst months were October and November.
They said that when they could not resolve the problem through prescription or over-the-counter medication, their work suffered.
Asked to rate their productivity when suffering from such allergies, patients in the UAE said their work rate fell by about 25 per cent. Patients in Saudi Arabia said their work rate fell by 40 per cent.
Professor Usamah Hadi, of the ENT department of the American University of Beirut Medical Centre, warned that people often did not take allergies seriously as they were not "considered life-threatening".
"But if you look at the quality of a patient's life, it's miserable. They are depressed, always fatigued. It affects day-to-day interaction and consequently their performance at work."
Following up patients' complaints was critical to prevent conditions such as asthma and chronic sinusitis, he added.
Nasal steroid sprays were the preferred treatment, followed by antihistamines.
rtalwar@thenational.ae
Four-day collections of TOH
Day Indian Rs (Dh)
Thursday 500.75 million (25.23m)
Friday 280.25m (14.12m)
Saturday 220.75m (11.21m)
Sunday 170.25m (8.58m)
Total 1.19bn (59.15m)
(Figures in millions, approximate)
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The "miners" use computers to make complex calculations that verify transactions in Bitcoin. This uses a tremendous amount of energy via computers and server farms all over the world, which has given rise to concerns about the amount of fossil fuel-dependent electricity used to power the computers.
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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Company name: baraka
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Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
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Initial investment: $150,000
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Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
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Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
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Sector: Entertainment
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Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
