Kumasi, Jan 22, GNA - Dr Peter Awuah, the Clinical Director at the Ear, Nose and Throat (E.N.T) Department of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, has expressed worry at the alarming rate at which children swallow and get chocked on the Ghana cedi coins. He appealed to parents not to give coins to children when they are leaving home for school and also to desist from putting coins at places within reach of children.

In an interview with Ghana News Agency in Kumasi on Monday, he appealed to education units to educate school children to avoid putting coins in their mouths and teach them how to handle coins. Dr Awua said there was an increase in nose-bleeding cases, allergic Rhinitis (dry cough) and catarrh cases caused by the harsh dry weather being experienced.

Dr Awuah cautioned the public not to use traditional methods to cure these diseases, particularly nose-bleeding, since patients who lose excessive blood through the nose become anaemic by the time they are taken to hospital, a situation which makes treatment very difficult. He said catarrh did not need any treatment but when it prolongs for more than one week, it must be reported to the E.N.T. for treatment.