The threat of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is now staring hard at flood-battered families in the State.
SBS refers to a medical condition where people in damp homes experience allergic reactions following the growth of moulds on walls, carpets, furniture and clothes. Moulds are fungi that reproduce by releasing spores.
“Moulds are more common in areas that are damp and wet. They will grow. That is what is going to happen in the post-flood scenario. It will produce allergic rhinitis and recurrent sinusitis. Those who are having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) will get infection. The most common moulds that we deal with here are aspergillus and penicillium. Even without floods, aspergillus is the most common condition associated with lung problems,” said Jacob Baby, senior pulmonologist in Kochi.
Symptoms
He said the victims of SBS would develop headache, chest infection, feel stuffy, chest congestion, and congestion of the nose.
The airway tubes get clogged owing to the spasm.
Those having allergic lung conditions, mainly asthma, were prone to recurrent infections, Dr. Baby said.
V.N. Sivasankara Pillai, former Director of the School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, said the flooded walls should be dried and disinfected.
Aerate rooms
“On sunny days, aeration has to be done continuously while ensuring that there is no residual moisture on the walls. Keep the doors and windows open as far as possible to allow cross ventilation,” he said.
Dr. Pillai said the rooms needed to be fumigated with sulphur dioxide so that it would creep into the crevices in walls.
The rooms should be closed and sulphur should be burnt in a ceramic vessel while taking care of the safety concerns.
After a few days, repeat the process if moulds were found growing again. Wait for half an hour to flush out the gas, he said.
Bleaching powder
Rajeev Sadanandan, Health Secretary, said the government had mobilised the bleaching powder required for disinfection in the flood-affected regions.
“We have now appointed six junior health inspectors in each panchayat on contract basis for one month to help the people in carrying out the sanitation work,” he said.
Asked whether the use of bleaching powder alone would be enough to deal with the current crisis, Mr. Sadanandan said the “methods will be very basic when we are engaged in a quick-scale operation. Our main focus now is to prevent infection. Things are under control,” he said.
Against overuse
However, he cautioned against the excess use of bleaching powder.
“Environmentalists have pointed out that overuse will destroy the bacteria needed for breaking down the organic waste that had emerged following the floods,” he said.
Suggesting that people should wear N-95 masks while cleaning, Dr. Baby said that those having asthma should ensure the use of preventive inhaler continuously and wear masks when they went out.
“People should remove spots of black, green or white moulds whenever they come across it,” he said.
