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Harmattan Health Guide: Natural Care and Danger Signs in Ghana

By Dr. Francis Kutin, ND, MPH | Naturopathic Physician and Medical Science Communicator | BF Naturopathic Health Care and Research, Agona Duakwa, Central Region, Ghana
Published and last reviewed: 9th November 2026

Every year between late October and March, dry, dusty winds blow in from the Sahara and Ghana enters the harmattan season. Lips crack, skin turns ashy and itchy, noses bleed, coughs linger, eyes burn and nights turn chilly. It is also the season when Ghana’s Health Service warns of a higher risk of meningitis. Many families reach for shea butter, honey, steam and herbal remedies, which can help, and sometimes for dangerous shortcuts. This guide explains how to care for your skin, lips, nose, throat, chest and eyes the natural and safe way, and which danger signs must never be treated at home.


Meningitis warning. Go to the nearest health facility immediately if a person has a sudden high fever with a severe headache, a stiff neck or pain when bending the neck forward, vomiting, confusion, extreme drowsiness, sensitivity to light, convulsions or a rash that does not fade when pressed. In babies, look for fever, refusing to feed, constant crying, floppiness or a bulging soft spot on the head. This is an emergency. Do not wait, and do not treat it with herbs.

Key Takeaways

  • Harmattan dries the air, so skin, lips, nose and eyes lose moisture and dust irritates the lungs. Simple, natural care makes a big difference.
  • The Ghana Health Service advises oil-based moisturisers such as shea butter, plenty of water and water-rich foods, face masks in dusty areas, protective eyewear and handwashing.
  • Honey (for people over one year) and warm fluids can soothe a harmattan cough, but a cough lasting over two weeks, wheezing or a high fever needs a health worker.
  • Ghana lies in the meningitis belt. The dry season, from about October to March, is when outbreaks occur, especially in the north. Early treatment saves lives.
  • Avoid unregistered creams, harsh herbal poultices, burning charcoal in closed rooms and unproven “cough cures”.

What Harmattan Does to Your Body

Harmattan air is very dry and carries fine dust. Humidity can fall far below normal, so moisture is pulled from the skin and the lining of the nose, throat and eyes. Dust irritates the airways and can trigger coughing, sneezing and asthma attacks. Cold early mornings and nights add to the strain, particularly for babies and older adults. The Ghana Health Service describes skin dryness and irritation, dehydration, respiratory problems, eye irritation and an increased risk of meningitis as the main harmattan health concerns.

Skin and Lip Care

Dry skin is more than uncomfortable. Cracks can let germs in, and itching can disturb sleep. Here is what works:

  • Moisturise within a few minutes of bathing, while the skin is still slightly damp, and again during the day. Thicker, oil-based products work best in dry air.
  • Shea butter, which the Ghana Health Service recommends, is a traditional and effective natural moisturiser. Plain petroleum jelly and plain vegetable oils such as coconut oil are other good choices. Choose pure, clean products.
  • Bathe with lukewarm, not hot, water and use mild soap. Hot water and strong soap strip natural oils. Keep baths short.
  • Pat dry instead of rubbing.
  • Protect lips with lip balm or a little shea butter, and avoid licking them, which makes them drier.
  • Care for hands and feet: Apply moisturiser at night and wear cotton socks or gloves to hold it in. Soak very rough heels briefly, then moisturise.
  • Babies and children: Use gentle, plain moisturisers on damp skin, and avoid scented products and strong herbal mixtures.
  • Wear soft, breathable cotton and avoid scratchy fabrics.

What to avoid

  • Skin-lightening creams and unregistered “herbal” creams, some of which contain steroids or other undeclared ingredients that thin the skin.
  • Strong herbal poultices or harsh scrubs on cracked skin.
  • Scratching, which causes infection. Keep nails short.

See a health worker if skin is red, weeping, painful, infected or constantly itchy, or if a child has patches of eczema that do not settle with moisturising.

Drink Water and Eat Water-Rich Foods

The dry air makes you lose water without noticing, through skin and breathing. Dehydration causes headaches, tiredness and dry mouth.

  • Drink water regularly through the day. Pale urine is a good sign.
  • Eat water-rich fruits (watermelon, oranges, pawpaw, pineapple), vegetables and soups.
  • Unsweetened or lightly sweetened drinks such as home-made sobolo count towards fluids, but watch the sugar.
  • Limit alcohol and energy drinks, which dehydrate. See our energy drinks article.
  • Use safe, clean water. Boil it or choose registered products.

Cough, Sore Throat and Blocked Nose

Most harmattan coughs and sore throats are caused by dry air, dust or simple viral colds, and they improve in days. Safe comfort measures:

  • Honey: A spoonful can soothe a cough, especially at night, and studies suggest it eases cough in children older than one year. Never give honey to babies under 12 months. People with diabetes should count it as sugar.
  • Warm fluids: Warm water, weak tea or ginger tea soothe the throat. See our ginger article.
  • Salt water gargle (half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm boiled water) for sore throat, for adults and older children.
  • Clean, humid air: Place a bowl of water in the room, or hang a damp cloth. Sweep with a damp cloth or mop to reduce dust.
  • Rinse the nose with a saline spray or boiled and cooled salty water to relieve dryness and blockage.
  • Steam: Some people find breathing warm steam comforting, but the benefit is limited, and scalds are a real danger, especially in children. Never put a child over a bowl of boiling water.
  • Rest and fluids.

What to avoid

See a health worker if you have a cough for more than two weeks (which needs checking for tuberculosis and other conditions), a high fever, chest pain, wheezing, difficulty breathing, coughing blood, or if a baby or young child is breathing fast or refusing to feed.

Asthma and Chest Problems

Harmattan dust is a major asthma trigger. The Ghana Health Service advises people with asthma and other breathing conditions to avoid dusty areas, limit outdoor activity and wear masks.

  • Keep taking your prescribed controller medicine, and carry your reliever inhaler. Natural remedies do not replace inhalers.
  • Wear a well-fitting mask in dusty places or on dusty roads.
  • Keep dust down at home: Damp-mop and wipe surfaces, and shake mats outside.
  • Avoid smoke: Cigarette smoke, mosquito coils, burning rubbish and heavy cooking smoke worsen breathing.
  • Seek emergency care if an inhaler does not help, or if there is severe breathlessness, blue lips or difficulty speaking.

Eye Care

  • Wear sunglasses or protective eyewear outdoors, which the Ghana Health Service recommends.
  • Do not rub your eyes. Rinse gently with clean, boiled and cooled water, or use lubricating eye drops.
  • Wash hands before touching your eyes.
  • Avoid putting herbs, pepper, breast milk or home mixtures in the eyes.
  • See a health worker for red, painful eyes, discharge, blurred vision or sensitivity to light.

Dry Nose and Nosebleeds

  • Apply a thin film of petroleum jelly or shea butter just inside the nostrils at night.
  • Avoid picking or blowing the nose hard.
  • First aid for a nosebleed: Sit up and lean forward, pinch the soft part of the nose firmly for 10 minutes without letting go, and breathe through the mouth.
  • Seek care if bleeding lasts more than 20 minutes, follows an injury, is very heavy or happens often.

Keeping Warm, Safely

  • Cover babies, small children and older people on cold nights and early mornings, with a cap or head cover for infants.
  • Never burn charcoal or firewood in a closed room to keep warm. The smoke contains carbon monoxide, an invisible gas that can kill in your sleep.
  • Keep fires and heaters away from bedding and clothes.

Meningitis: Know the Facts

Meningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses and other germs. Bacterial meningitis is the most dangerous, and it can kill within hours.

Why harmattan?

Ghana lies partly within the African “meningitis belt”, where outbreaks occur each dry season, especially in the northern regions. Dry, dusty air is thought to damage the lining of the nose and throat, making infection easier, and crowded living conditions help germs spread from person to person. The Ghana Health Service issued public alerts in December 2025 and January 2026. It reported that Ghana had recorded more than 120 meningitis cases and 16 deaths the previous year, with the Upper West Region hardest hit.

Symptoms

  • Sudden high fever
  • Severe headache
  • Stiff neck, or pain when bending the neck forward
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Confusion, drowsiness and sensitivity to light
  • Convulsions
  • A skin rash of small red or purple spots that does not fade under a pressed glass
  • In babies: fever, poor feeding, irritability, constant high-pitched crying, floppiness, or a bulging soft spot

What to do

  • Go immediately to the nearest hospital or clinic, or call 112.
  • Do not wait to see if herbs, painkillers or prayer help.
  • Hospitals treat suspected bacterial meningitis urgently with injected antibiotics and supportive care. Early treatment greatly improves survival and reduces lasting harm such as deafness and brain damage.
  • Close contacts may need preventive antibiotics, so tell the health workers who has been in close contact.

Prevention

  • Avoid overcrowding in sleeping rooms, and keep rooms ventilated.
  • Cover your mouth when coughing and wash hands often.
  • Do not share cups and utensils with people who are ill.
  • Vaccines against meningitis exist. Ask your health facility about meningococcal vaccination, especially in northern Ghana and for children.
  • Report suspected cases to the nearest health facility quickly. This helps stop outbreaks.

Harmattan Checklist

  1. Moisturise after bathing with shea butter or another plain, oil-based product.
  2. Drink water, and eat fruits and soups.
  3. Wear a mask in dust, especially with asthma.
  4. Protect your eyes, and don’t put herbs in them.
  5. Soothe coughs with honey (over 1 year), warm fluids and rest.
  6. Keep dust down at home and ventilate sleeping rooms.
  7. Keep babies and elders warm, but never burn charcoal in a closed room.
  8. Know the meningitis signs, and go to hospital at once.
  9. Avoid unregistered creams, unproven cough cures and antibiotics without a prescription.
  10. Keep taking your regular medicines and attending check-ups. See To Live Longer: 5 Habits and Foods to Avoid for a Healthier Life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is shea butter good for harmattan dry skin?
Yes. Pure shea butter is a traditional, natural moisturiser, and the Ghana Health Service recommends oil-based moisturisers such as shea butter.

Why do my lips crack in harmattan?
Dry air pulls moisture from the thin skin of the lips. Use balm or shea butter regularly and avoid licking them.

Can harmattan cause meningitis?
Harmattan itself does not cause it, but the dry, dusty, crowded conditions increase the spread of the germs that do. Know the symptoms and seek care quickly.

Can I give honey to my baby for cough?
No. Honey must not be given to babies under 12 months.

Is it safe to use steam for a cough?
Steam is soothing for some adults, but scalds are a danger, and the benefit is limited. Never use it on young children.

Why do I have nosebleeds in harmattan?
Dry air dries the lining of the nose, which cracks and bleeds easily. Petroleum jelly inside the nostrils helps. See a doctor if bleeding is frequent or heavy.

Do I need antibiotics for a harmattan cough?
Usually not. Most are viral or due to dust. See a health worker if the cough is severe or lasts more than two weeks.

Conclusion

Harmattan is a season of dry skin and dusty air, but with a few natural and sensible habits, most of its discomforts can be eased: shea butter and water for the skin, honey and warm fluids for a cough, masks and clean homes for the chest, and sunglasses for the eyes. The most important lesson is to recognise the danger signs, above all those of meningitis, and to go to a health facility without delay. Stay hydrated, stay clean, keep warm safely and look out for each other, especially children and the elderly.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you or someone in your care is unwell, especially with a high fever, severe headache, stiff neck or breathing difficulty, seek medical care immediately. See our full Medical Disclaimer.

References and Further Reading

About the Author

Dr. Francis Kutin, ND, MPH, is a naturopathic physician, public health researcher and medical science communicator based at Agona Duakwa in the Central Region of Ghana. He writes about health education, naturopathic health care and evidence-informed wellness through BF Naturopathic Health Care and Research. Contact us.

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