Children hospitalized have surged – Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospitals are overwhelmed.
(Baonghean.vn) -The unpredictable weather with alternating sunshine and rain, along with rising temperatures, has caused Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital to be constantly overloaded with pediatric patients during the early days of summer.
According to statistics from April 1st to May 2nd, the Outpatient Department received 15,836 pediatric patients (an average of 527 patients examined per day), of which 2,701 were inpatients (an average of over 90 children admitted for inpatient treatment per day), mostly for illnesses such as pneumonia, upper respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, and allergic dermatitis. Le Anh Tuan (7 months old), son of Ms. Tran Thi Huong from Nam Cat commune (Nam Dan district), was admitted with pneumonia complicated by diarrhea. Similarly, Tran Thi Phuong, daughter of Ms. Le Thi Anh from Anh Son district, was admitted for treatment due to a high fever of 39 degrees Celsius and diarrhea.
Mothers sit waiting for their children to be examined by a doctor.
Dr. Pham Van Tu, Deputy Director of the hospital, stated: The hospital's overcrowding during this period is due to the changing weather, leading to an increase in childhood illnesses, with many cases even bypassing local hospitals for inpatient treatment. While the hospital only has 300 beds, it is currently using 474 beds, yet still cannot alleviate the overcrowding (currently, the hospital has admitted over 500 children for inpatient treatment, with an average of 2-3 children per bed). Departments such as Respiratory, Infectious Diseases, Neonatology, and Intensive Care are all experiencing severe overcrowding.
Dr. Tư advises parents with young children to be aware that during seasonal changes and fluctuating weather, with rising temperatures, children are very susceptible to infectious diseases such as viral fever, respiratory illnesses, diarrhea, and digestive disorders. It is important to ensure children eat hygienically and receive proper nutrition to boost their immunity. Avoid dressing children too warmly, which can cause excessive sweating. Only give fever-reducing medication when the child's fever reaches 38.5 degrees Celsius or higher. If a child has a high fever, a persistent cough, fatigue, lethargy, or vomiting, they should be taken to the nearest medical facility for examination and timely treatment.
Thu Thuy (Provincial Center for Health Information and Education)
