With the hot weather causing many children to be hospitalized, doctors advise on ways to prevent illness.
(Baonghean.vn) - Over the past three days, the weather has been continuously hot and sunny, with temperatures soaring. This extreme weather has caused many children to fall ill, requiring examinations and hospitalizations.
During this hot weather, an average of about 1,000 children visit Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital for examination each day. Of these, about one-third require hospitalization. Children admitted to the hospital mainly suffer from common illnesses during hot weather such as viral fever, influenza, hand, foot and mouth disease, chickenpox, measles, pneumonia, bronchiolitis, diarrhea, allergic dermatitis, and contact dermatitis.
Not only the outpatient clinics but also the treatment wards are crowded with patients. At the Gastroenterology and Hematology Department of Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, the bed occupancy rate consistently exceeds 100% (110 beds). On average, about 30-40 patients are admitted to the ward each day. The flow of patients is constant…
Patients admitted to the department suffer from a variety of illnesses. The most common are acute diarrhea (caused by viruses and bacteria); fever, vomiting accompanied by digestive disorders; constipation; stomach problems; unexplained abdominal pain; gastroesophageal reflux, etc.
There are many reasons why children suffer from digestive diseases. To prevent these diseases, parents need to pay attention to environmental hygiene and personal hygiene for their children; they need to ensure their children eat enough nutrients, with a diverse diet, and increased consumption of fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins C and A to support the immune system…
Parents should not allow children to eat raw or spoiled food, or drink unboiled water or too much ice water; they should cover food with food covers and kill flies. Parents need to wash their hands with soap before eating and preparing food for children.
Similarly, at the Respiratory Department of Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, the number of patients currently fluctuates between 120 and 150. Each day, the department admits 25-35 patients for treatment. The main illnesses are pneumonia, bronchitis, laryngitis, bronchiolitis, etc., with some severe cases requiring respiratory failure and oxygen therapy. According to statistics from the Respiratory Department, compared to the same period in 2023, the number of patients has increased by 15-20%.
Dr. Bui Anh Son, Head of the Respiratory Department at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, stated: One of the causes of respiratory illnesses in children is the improper use of fans and air conditioners during hot weather.
To prevent illness in children, parents should note the following: Do not let the airflow from fans or air conditioners blow directly onto the child's face. The air conditioner temperature should be set at 27-28 degrees Celsius. If the family does not have a humidifier, place a bowl of water in the child's room to increase humidity.
Avoid frequently going in and out between the high temperature outside and the low temperature inside an air-conditioned room. Before leaving an air-conditioned room, turn off the air conditioner 20-30 minutes beforehand to allow the temperature to gradually equalize with the outside temperature, avoiding thermal shock and conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and respiratory failure.
Parents should cover young children with thin blankets when they are in air-conditioned rooms to keep their stomachs and necks warm. Pay attention to the child's temperature; if the child sweats, wipe them dry immediately to prevent sweat from soaking back into the skin. Parents should dress their children in clothes made of breathable, sweat-wicking materials. During this hot weather, parents need to provide their children with enough water, nutrients, and fruits.
Dr. Bui Anh Son further noted: During this season, infectious diseases such as influenza, measles, and viral fever occur relatively frequently. Therefore, parents should limit their children's exposure to crowded places. Children should be careful not to come into contact with sick people. Vaccination against preventable diseases should be carried out.
When children show unusual health signs (such as respiratory infections, persistent high fever, frequent vomiting, rashes and blisters on the body, sneezing, fatigue, etc.), they should be taken immediately to medical facilities for treatment to prevent the disease from worsening; do not self-medicate your child at home.
Giving children medication without a doctor's prescription is extremely dangerous. Not only will the illness not be cured, but it can also worsen and even lead to drug resistance due to incorrect treatment protocols. The hospital has had to treat many children who suffered from drug poisoning.
