Since early this month, the average temperature in HCM City and the southern region has risen to 36-38 degrees centigrade.
More people have been hospitalised in HCM City due to the current hot weather
Doctor Nguyen Dinh Qui from HCM City Children's Hospital 2 said that since early March, more children were taken to the hospital. In February, around 4,000 children were hospitalised, but the figure increased to 3,600 in the first two weeks of this month.
Dr. Tang Le Chau Ngoc, head of the hospital’s Gastroenterology Department, said that the ward has around 40-60 patients per day, including 15-20 hospitalised. Among those, 3-5 cases suffer from serious hypohydration. He mentioned a 17-month-old child who faced kidney failure after high fever and diarrhoea.
According to Ngoc, the number of sick children to the hospital could continue rising in the coming days.
The same situation has also been reported at HCM City Children's Hospital 1, particularly children with respiratory diseases.
Thong Nhat Hospital in HCM City has seen more elderly patients. Nguyen Thi Thoa in District 10 said that she has been faced with dizziness and breathing difficulties. She was suspected of having symptoms of a stroke.
HCM City Hospital of Dermato Venereology said it has also seen more patients with diseases such as allergy and pruritus.
Doctor Nguyen Dinh Qui said that diseases related to digestive, respiratory and skin problems account for the highest rate of patients when the weather is hot. He advised that people should not change environments suddenly. People are advised to pay attention to protecting their health during hot weather.
The hot weather has tended to expand to more localities in the southern region.
Dr. Truong Quang Anh Vu from Thong Nhat Hospital said that the number of elderly people treated at the hospital increases around 5-10% per year.
