Illustrative image (Source: sggpnews.org.vn) HCM City (VNA) - Hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City are seeing more patients with denguefever one month before the peak season for the disease.
The Hospital forTropical Diseases has admitted 798 patients with the disease since lastmonth, nearly double compared to the same period last year.
The hospitalcurrently is treating 151 dengue fever patients, including 25 children. Ofthe total, 10 people are on a ventilator in the hospital’s intensive careroom.
Dr Nguyen Thanh Phongof the hospital said that 20 to 25 patients with dengue fever were hospitalisedin May every day. That number has increased to 70 a day.
The hospital hasadded more beds for patients with the disease. Two peoplediagnosed with dengue fever died last week, including one adult andone child.
At PaediatricsHospital 1, 50 to 60 inpatients have been hospitalised each day sinceearly June, including several patients with severe complications.
The city's PreventiveMedicine Centre said the number of patients with dengue feverwould rise during the rainy season when mosquitoes are more active.
A report from thecity's Pasteur Institute found that 2,163 patients in 20 southernprovinces and cities were diagnosed with dengue fever last week, anincrease of 4 percent compared to the previous week and up 57 percent againstthe same period last year.
Binh Duong province'sHealth Department said the province had nearly 3,000 dengue feverincidences in the first six months, up 22 percent against theperiod last year.
Thuan An and Di Antownships have had the highest number of cases in the province,accounting for more than 40 percent.
These townships arehome to the large number of people whose accommodations are not stable,making it difficult for local health officials to control the disease.
In addition, localresidents have not taken preventive measures at their homes to killmosquitoes and larvae.
Dr Phong said thatobese children with dengue fever often suffer more than others. Last year,10 patients at the hospital died from the disease. Of these, halfwere obese.
The risk of gettingshock among obese children is nearly 15 percent, while it is 4.6 percentamong non-obese children, he added.
People with diabetesand hypertension can also experience severe complications when theycontract dengue fever. It can also lead to premature birth among pregnantwomen, he said.-VNA
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