Nghe An is very cold, many patients are hospitalized

Number of patients increasedHigh

Entering the cold spell, the number of children suffering from weather-related diseases in Nghe An increased. At Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, many parents brought their children to the hospital for examination and treatment. Ms. TTT (in Nam Dan district) - mother of NTL (3 years old) said: For nearly a month now, the child has had a runny nose, cough, and wheezing and had to be treated. Just a week after being discharged from the hospital, the weather turned cold, the monsoon came, and the child's illness relapsed. The child had difficulty breathing, turned purple, had a high fever, and had convulsions, so I took him straight to the Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. The doctors diagnosed him with acute pneumonia.

Master, Doctor Dau Thi Hoi - Deputy Head of the Examination Department, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital said: The cold weather affects everyone's health, especially children - those with very weak resistance. During this cold spell, the number of pediatric patients coming for examination has increased, on average 600 - 700 patients a day at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. Of which, 1/3 of the patients had to be hospitalized for inpatient treatment. Common diseases this season: respiratory diseases, allergic rhinitis, adenoiditis, otitis media, bronchitis, pneumonia, influenza A, influenza B...

To prevent diseases in general and respiratory diseases in particular during cold and freezing days, parents need to keep their children warm. Especially keep their hands, feet, neck, chest, and head warm. Limit children from going out when the outside temperature is too low. When it is necessary to go out, wear a mask and keep your child warm. In addition, it is necessary to have a suitable diet for children in this weather. Increase your child's water intake and avoid eating cold foods and drinks or taking them directly from the refrigerator. Clean your child's personal hygiene every day in a place protected from the wind or with heating equipment. In particular, vaccinate your child fully and on schedule to prevent diseases very effectively. Parents need to pay attention not to keep their children too warm, causing sweat to flow out and soak back into the body.

Dr. Bui Anh Son - Head of the Respiratory Department, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital further recommends: Absolutely do not use coal or firewood for heating, 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, dust... When you see your child has a prolonged cough, high fever, refuses to breastfeed, or 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.

At Nghe An General Hospital, although the number of patients has not increased, the number of severe cases has increased significantly. Most of the patients are elderly. Master, Doctor Nguyen Xuan Tan, Head of the Emergency Department, Provincial General Hospital said: The weather changes from warm to cold, patients with respiratory diseases, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and stroke are very high. Patients with respiratory diseases account for about 20% of the patients admitted to the department, and stroke patients account for about 20 patients/day.

Master, Doctor Nguyen Xuan Tan added: To prevent respiratory diseases, people need to keep their bodies warm. People with underlying medical conditions need to maintain their health, avoid heavy work, and take medication as prescribed by their doctor. To prevent strokes and accidents, the elderly need to avoid direct cold exposure and take blood pressure medication daily.

Actively respond to severe cold weather

In the face of severe cold, affecting people's health, the Prime Minister issued Official Dispatch No. 1404/CD-TTg on proactively preventing and combating prolonged severe cold in the Northern and North Central regions; the Ministry of Health issued Official Dispatch No. 8344/BYT-MT on implementing measures to protect people's health from the effects of severe cold to the provinces of Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Yen Bai, Son La, Hoa Binh, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Bac Giang, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Ha Nam, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue.

The Ministry of Health requested provinces and cities to direct relevant departments and branches to closely monitor the development of severe cold in the area and promptly inform people and proactively implement preventive measures to protect their health during the cold season.

Direct the Department of Health and relevant units to disseminate knowledge, guide and advise people in the community to take effective preventive measures against the cold, ensure health safety, warn people to know and prevent heating accidents such as burns and especially prevent CO poisoning due to heating with coal and firewood in closed spaces.

Implementing the Prime Minister's Official Dispatch No. 1404/CD-TTg, Official Dispatch No. 8344/BYT-MT of the Ministry of Health, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Document No. 121/UBND-VX dated January 5, 2024 on implementing measures to protect people's health from the effects of severe cold. The Department of Information and Communications of Nghe An province has issued an official dispatch directing press agencies, cultural and information departments of districts, cities, towns and Cultural, Sports and Communications Centers of districts, cities, towns to guide and propagate to people measures to protect health from the effects of severe cold according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health on mass media.

Information from Nghe An Department of Health: The Department has directed medical examination and treatment facilities in the area to ensure adequate provision of emergency medicines, enough hospital beds, and ready means to promptly handle common emergency cases; organize medical examination and treatment for people, ensure cold prevention for patients and their families during the examination and treatment process at medical facilities.