Dr. Hoang Phuc Lam - Deputy Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that the average temperature nationwide from April to May 2024 is generally 1-2 degrees Celsius higher than the average of many years, and higher in some places; in June, the temperature is generally 0.5-1.5 degrees Celsius higher. Due to the effects of heat and intense heat combined with low humidity, there is a risk of explosions and fires in residential areas due to increased demand for electricity and the risk of forest fires. In addition, heat can also cause dehydration, exhaustion, and heat stroke when exposed to high temperatures for a long time.
Prolonged high temperatures in the South, intense heat at the beginning of summer in the North have caused the number of patients hospitalized to increase rapidly. It is recorded that in recent times in Ho Chi Minh City and the Southern region, the number of people coming to see a doctor and receive treatment at hospitals has continuously increased. Common diseases in the hot season are respiratory infections, digestive tract infections, heatstroke, skin burns, and atopic dermatitis.
Dr. Truong Anh Vu - Head of the Examination Department (Thong Nhat Hospital) said that every year when the weather changes or in the hot season, the elderly often come to see a doctor more. Since the beginning of the hot season, the number of patients coming to the hospital has increased by about 20% compared to before. On average, the department receives about 2,200 - 2,500 patients per day. The number of patients coming to see a doctor is mainly related to respiratory, ear, nose and throat, and cardiovascular diseases.
In addition, the number of patients with myocardial infarction and stroke has also increased. According to Dr. Dang Thi Ngoc Bich - Department of Dermatology - Dermatology (Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City), from the beginning of February 2024 to now, the hospital has recorded a 30% increase in the number of cases of skin diseases related to hot weather such as atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, itching, urticaria, etc. compared to the previous period. Patients are of all ages, from children to adults.
Similarly, the heat in the Central region in recent days has also caused an increase in the number of hospitalized patients. According to statistics from Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, during the first hot season, on average, about 1,000 children come to see a doctor every day. Of these, about 1/3 (28%) of the children who come to see a doctor have to be hospitalized. Children are mainly hospitalized due to some common diseases during hot weather such as viral fever, flu, hand, foot and mouth disease, chickenpox, measles, pneumonia, bronchitis, diarrhea, etc.
In the Northern region, the number of stroke cases admitted to Bach Mai Hospital has increased in recent days, especially among young people. In addition, at the Central Dermatology Hospital, Thanh Nhan Hospital, Dong Da General Hospital, etc., the number of patients coming for examination, treatment and hospitalization due to hot weather has also increased sharply compared to the previous period.
One of the other dangerous effects caused by hot weather is heatstroke. Dr. Ngo Thi Mai Phuong - Pediatrics - Vaccination Clinic (University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City) analyzed that people who go out in the sun at high temperatures are susceptible to heatstroke, commonly known as heatstroke with symptoms of headache, dizziness, and nausea. This is a condition in which the patient's body temperature increases due to the body's abnormal heat production process under the influence of the weather. The increased body temperature will cause the cells to lose water, leading to a decrease in circulating volume, leading to a drop in blood pressure. The symptoms of dizziness and lightheadedness are due to nerve cells not being supplied with enough blood. If the above condition persists, the patient will fall into a state of heatstroke with symptoms of struggling, convulsions, and coma that are life-threatening.
Dr. Ha Chi Trung - Emergency Department (Thu Duc Regional General Hospital) recommends that to prevent heat stroke, people should limit going out during peak heat, the hottest time of the day is usually from 10am to 4pm. If you have to go out, you should wear a hat, wear sun-protective clothing, wear a mask... In addition, you should supplement drinks rich in electrolytes, drinks that help keep the body cool and provide natural electrolytes, especially for those who work outdoors and lose a lot of water, so you should supplement with lemon juice and fruit juice. In addition, intense heat can cause sunburn, blistering and possibly skin cancer. Therefore, before going out, you should apply sunscreen to protect your skin from these potential risks. When you have symptoms of suspected heat stroke, you should move into the shade; sit down and loosen your clothes; drink water in sips; use cold packs to cool your body. Call emergency services 115 or the nearest hospital emergency number for medical assistance.
Associate Professor, Dr. Mai Duy Ton - Director of the Stroke Center (Bach Mai Hospital) recommends that to prevent the risk of death, when there is one of the symptoms of stroke (reduced vision, weak limbs, slurred speech/difficulty speaking, headache, dizziness, etc.), the patient should be taken immediately to a stroke treatment unit for timely diagnosis and treatment.
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