Heat wave during this week has resulted in a dramatic increase in thenumber of child patients at the central Da Nang Ob-Gyn ND PediatricHospital.
Since the beginning of the week, thehospital has received an average of 600 child patients a day, a 30-35percent increase over previous months.
"Hot andhumid weather during summer encourages bacteria growth and the diseasetransmission. In addition, under extreme heat conditions, the human bodyis vulnerable to exhaustion, dehydration and weakened immune systems,especially children under the age of two," said Le Thanh Cam, DeputyHead of the hospital's Emergency Department.
Camsaid respiration problems commonly found among children during summerincluded pneumonia, bronchitis, rhinitis and sore throats. He advisedparents to avoid exposing children to sudden changes in temperature,like leaving an air-conditioned room to extreme outdoor heat.
The incidence of hand-foot-mouth disease among children has also beenon the rise with an average of 60-70 child patients being diagnosedevery day during the heat wave.
Doctors have advisedthat parents maintain good hygiene, keep children properly hydratedalong with a healthy diet, avoid eating food sold by street vendors.They have also said that children should be taken to hospitals andmedical centres as soon as they show any abnormal health symptoms.-VNA