Nghe An: Severe cold, thousands of people suffer from respiratory diseases

Many children were admitted to Nghe An Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital with severe pneumonia. Photo: Thanh Hoa

Young and old are suffering from the cold.

According to statistics from the General Planning Department, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital: From December 10, 2017 to January 10, 2018, there were 25,800 pediatric patients coming for examination, of which over 5,600 pediatric patients had to be hospitalized.

The total number of patients hospitalized for treatment did not increase compared to other months of the year, but the number of people suffering from respiratory diseases increased. Many children even came to the hospital in life-threatening conditions due to complications of acute pneumonia, sepsis... Baby Bui Tuan Kiet (3 months old), from Nghia Yen commune, Nghia Dan district, is one of those cases.

Baby Bui Tuan Kiet has acute pneumonia and is being monitored and treated at the Respiratory Department, Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital. Photo: Thanh Hoa

Ms. Bui Thi Nguyet Anh - Kiet's mother said: For nearly a month now, the child has had a runny nose, cough, and wheezing and had to be treated at the local hospital. Just after being discharged from the hospital for a week, the weather turned cold, the monsoon came, and the child's illness relapsed. The child was fussy, refused to breastfeed, had difficulty breathing, turned purple, had high bones and convulsions, so I took him straight to the Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital. The doctors diagnosed him with acute pneumonia.

After 1 day of intensive treatment, baby Bui Tuan Kiet's fever has gone down, his health has gradually stabilized, and his skin has become rosy again. According to the doctors of the Respiratory Department: Baby Kiet needs to be treated for another 7-10 days before he can be discharged from the hospital.

During this cold spell, not only young children and infants get sick, but the number of children over 10 years old with respiratory complications also increases.

Hoang Quang Thuan, 13 years old, in Nam Loc commune, Nam Dan district is one of the patients hospitalized during this cold spell. Thuan's sister said: At first, when Thuan had back and stomach pain, the family thought he had joint pain so they took medicine to treat it themselves. After 2 days of no improvement, they took Thuan to the hospital and found out he had a blood infection due to lobar pneumonia and monitored a lung abscess. Up to now, after 5 days of inpatient treatment, Thuan's condition has gradually improved, his fever has reduced...

Not only at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, but also the number of patients with respiratory diseases coming for treatment at the Provincial General Hospital has increased significantly. The planned number of beds in the Allergy - Respiratory Department is 35 beds (actually 64 beds) is not enough for the number of patients being treated. In recent days, the number of inpatients in the department has always been approximately 80 - 85 people.

The Allergy - Respiratory Department of the Provincial General Hospital is overloaded, with two beds sharing three people. Photo: Thanh Chung

Of the total number of patients with respiratory diseases in the department, the elderly make up the majority, most of whom have a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Mr. Nguyen Song Hao, 69 years old, in block 6, Ha Huy Tap ward, Vinh city, who is being treated at the department, said: "With this disease, every time it gets cold and the weather changes suddenly, it gets worse. The cold air comes, I have difficulty breathing, so I have been here for treatment for 5 days. If I feel better, I will ask to go home tomorrow to prevent cross-infection and give up my bed to others. There are too many patients"!

Keep warm to prevent disease

Master, Doctor Le Nhat Huy - Head of the Department of Allergy - Respiratory, Provincial General Hospital of Friendship explained: In the cold season, chronic diseases, especially respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchial asthma and chronic pneumonia, increase and flare up. The subjects are often the elderly because of poor health and poor resistance. Respiratory diseases in this season are often more severe, so the number of treatment days is longer, leading to overload in the hospital.

The Allergy - Respiratory Department had to add more beds in the hallway. Photo: Thanh Chung

Doctor Le Nhat Huy recommends: "For the elderly, to prevent disease, it is necessary to focus on keeping the body warm. People with a history of chronic diseases need to get vaccinated. In particular, it is necessary to pay attention to the use of straw, firewood, and coal for heating. Many people have had to be hospitalized due to toxic smoke affecting the respiratory tract."

Master, Doctor Bui Anh Son - Head of the Respiratory Department, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital also gave a similar recommendation: "Absolutely do not use coal or firewood to warm children, because coal vapor emits very toxic gases. Limit children from going outside when the weather changes. For young children, especially newborns, parents need to keep them warm, especially their mouth, nose, neck and feet by ensuring warm air in the room. Avoid taking children to crowded places, do not let them come into contact with smoke and dust"...

With chronic respiratory infections, Dr. Le Nhat Huy advises patients not to exercise too much in cold weather. Photo: Thanh Chung

Not only should children's rooms be cold, but parents should also pay attention to keeping them in a room that is too hot by not keeping them too warm, causing sweat to flow out and seep back into their bodies... During days of prolonged cold weather, it is necessary to give children adequate nutrition, warm food and water before use, and wash hands thoroughly before feeding children and after using the toilet.

When you see your child has a prolonged cough, high fever, refuses to breastfeed, is lethargic and difficult to wake up... do not arbitrarily buy medicine to treat at home, but take the child to the nearest medical facility for timely examination and treatment by doctors./.