Dr. Nasser Al-Dossari, the Consultant of Digestive System and Liver Diseases, said that the most prominent problems, encountered by patients suffering from chronic liver and digestive system disorders especially in cases of performing pilgrimage, include stress, and relapse of the disease, highlighting that it depends on the severity of the disease and the extent of exposure to such a relapse, Allah forbid. Meanwhile, Dr. Al-Dossari advised all pilgrims to visit and consult their own physicians before leaving for pilgrimage and to take the necessary medications and vaccinations at least two weeks before the pilgrimage.
Moreover, Dr. Al-Dossari advised pilgrims suffering from advanced cirrhosis, severe ulcerative colitis, and immunodeficiency as well as the suspected cases of the novel Coronavirus not to perform the Hajj until the disease is placed under control. The mild and moderate cases, whose health status is under control, can perform pilgrimage, provided that they take medications on time, drink fluids and fresh juices as much as possible, eat fruits after washing them very well, avoid intake of large amounts of meat and saturated fat from animal products, adhere to the applicable standards when purchasing the fast food, stay away from the unwrapped foods sold by hawkers, and make sure that the foods are fresh and not re-heated from the refrigerator.
It is worth mentioning that Dr. Nasser Al-Dossari was hosted on Sunday at the program (Pilgrims' Health is Our Concern) launched by the Ministry of Health (MOH) for the tenth consecutive, where the senior physicians and specialists being hosted to provide the pilgrims with the most important tips that help them perform Hajj, and to respond to all questions via the toll-free number: 8002494444; and through the MOH's account on Twitter: @ saudimoh.
In the same context, Dr. Al-Dossari advised pilgrims suffering from disorders in the digestive system and liver to have knowledge on their health status and their capability to perform the Hajj rituals by visiting the specialist physician adequate time before their departure. In addition, Dr. Al-Dossari advised pilgrims to follow up the general advices, take a break after completing each of the Hajj rituals, avoid direct exposure to the sunlight, and drink a lot of fluids including the fresh juices prepared well or packaged with a validity date; that is to be added to eating a lot of fresh fruits after washing them very well, and cooking the foods well.
Completing his advices given to the pilgrims, Dr. Al-Dossari said that the pilgrims should also stay away from the mass gatherings as much as possible, take care of their personal hygiene, use their own items while preventing others from using such items, wash their hands very well before and after eating and after defecating in the bathroom, and take the prescribed medication at the right time while keeping it away from the sunlight, taking a sufficient amount of it and making sure of its validity date.
Furthermore, Dr. Nasser Al-Dossari underscored that the infection of the novel Coronavirus has been recorded on a small scale, thanks to Allah, adding that this virus is more dangerous on the elderly people and those suffering from chronic diseases, such as advanced cirrhosis, as well as the advanced diseases of the digestive system, and immunodeficiency. However, Dr. Al-Dossari affirmed that patients who do not suffer from chronic diseases are easily recovered, Allah willing, focusing on the importance of paying attention to this infection.
As for the symptoms, Dr. Al-Dossari said that such symptoms include high temperature, shortness of breath, and cough with appearance of symptoms similar to those of the flu or the common cold. The digestive system may also suffer from symptoms similar to those of the gastroenteritis, such as vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain, so the person, who suffers from any of these symptoms, should go to the hospital immediately in order to enjoy some comfort, take the fluids and medications, have his health status closely monitored and to be isolated from the other groups to prevent the spread of the disease, Allah willing.
In conclusion, Dr. Al-Dossari advised pilgrims to wear a mask while performing the Hajj rituals, avoid the mass gatherings, put a handkerchief on their mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing, not to spit in the public roads, use napkins, and take a vaccination against the seasonal influenza before leaving for Hajj, noting that such a vaccination does not prevent the infection of the novel Coronavirus which has no a special vaccination till now.
On the other hand, Dr. Um Al-Khair Abdullah Abu Al-Khair, the Consultant of Blood Diseases and Tumors, will also be hosted at MOH's Media and Health Information Center on Tuesday 25/11/1434H (corresponding to 1/10/2013) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.; in order to respond to all questions via the toll-free number: 8002494444; and through the MOH's account on Twitter: @ saudimoh.