The elderly, children in HCM City advised to stay in

A doctor from HCM City Paediatrics Hospital No1 gives a health check to a child suffering from a digestive disorder because of hot weather. (Source: VNA)  

HCM City (VNA) – Doctors have urged the elderly and
children in Ho Chi Minh City to stay out of the as temperatures have
climbed in recent days.

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that
temperatures in the city have ranged from 26 degrees Celsius to 35 degrees
Celsius in the last few days.

The HCM City University Medical Centre said that 5,800 people
since last week had visited the centre for examinations because of hot weather,
an increase of 10 percent compared to normal days and 6 percent compared to the
same period last year.

Most of the patients have respiratory and s or
chronic diseases such as asthma and heart conditions.

Since last month, the city’s paediatrics hospitals have been
overcrowded.

The city Paediatrics Hospital 1 on April 17 was packed with
parents and children. Since last month, it has treated nearly 5,000-6,000
patients each day. Of the number, 80 percent had respiratory and digestive
problems.

Paediatrics Hospital 2’s digestive diseases department
admitted 160 children for treatment daily, while only 120 children were treated
on normal days.

Dr Dinh Thac of the Paediatrics Hospital 2 told Sai Gon Giai
Phong  (Liberated Sai Gon) newspaper that food exposed to high
temperatures for a long period can become contaminated with bacteria, leading
to digestive disorders.

Thac said that air conditioners also contribute to respiratory
problems, particularly when people frequently go in and out of cooled rooms to
go outdoors.

Thac said that parents should use fans and air conditioners
properly and maintain food safety and hygiene.

Nguyen Viet Hau, deputy head of HCM City University Medical
Centre’s emergency aids department, said that older people in hot weather
conditions were more susceptible to stroke, especially when they are dehydrated
and have an insufficient amount of salt.

When body temperature increases, heart, respiratory system, liver,
kidney and especially nerves can be affected.

If people have symptoms such as headache, vertigo and perception
disorders, they should be brought to hospital, Hau said.

A cool gauze should be placed on many parts of their body to
reduce the temperature, he added.

Older people should pay more attention to blood pressure and drink
enough water, he said.-VNA