At the beginning of this summer, the number of pediatric patients in hospitals has increased. The early sun and afternoon rain are among the main reasons for the rise in “summer illnesses.”
Limit Bathing Time for Children
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| Doctor caring for a patient with Japanese encephalitis (Photo: vnagency) |
Dr. Truong Huu Khanh, head of the infectious diseases department at Children’s Hospital 1, stated that children are more susceptible to illnesses during the summer due to weather changes and lifestyle habits. Dr. Khanh advises parents to limit how often children bathe on hot days. After bathing, it’s best for children not to be exposed to wind immediately. Children should not go from the sun directly into an air-conditioned room or vice versa.
Sudden temperature changes can make children more vulnerable to illness. If a child becomes ill, they should rest, drink plenty of fluids, and avoid excessive activity. If a child shows signs of difficulty breathing, lethargy, seizures, or coma, they should be taken to the hospital. Parents are reminded to clean their surroundings and reduce mosquito breeding areas.
Additionally, to prevent diarrhea, Dr. Pham Thi Ngoc Tuyet, head of the digestive department, recommends that children eat well-cooked and hygienic food. In recent years in the southern region, there have been cases of children suffering from encephalitis caused by enteroviruses, which are transmitted through food and water. Moreover, diarrhea and fever can sometimes be the first signs of other dangerous diseases.
Be Aware of Encephalitis
At Children’s Hospital 2 in Ho Chi Minh City, on recent days, 3,000 to 3,100 children visited the hospital daily. However, in early June, there were days when nearly 4,000 children came for check-ups. At Children’s Hospital 1, last week there were days when over 4,800 children were admitted, an increase of about 300 compared to the beginning of the previous week. According to Dr. Tang Chi Thuong, director of Children’s Hospital 1, the majority of cases are respiratory infections, followed by gastrointestinal diseases, with about 3% of children requiring hospitalization. |
According to the doctors, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections in children during this season are generally mild and do not usually require hospitalization. However, there are sporadic cases of severe diseases and complications during this time.
Dr. Tran Huu Nhon, head of the general internal medicine department at Children’s Hospital 2, notes: “Although Japanese encephalitis predominantly appears in the northern region, parents must remain vigilant during this transitional season. This disease can cause rapid fatalities, and there have been sporadic cases of death from Japanese encephalitis in the city. It is best to have children vaccinated against encephalitis at healthcare facilities.”
Regarding complications, Dr. Khanh mentioned that there are cases where children have hand-foot-mouth syndrome, but parents are unaware and take them to a non-specialized clinic, where doctors may not diagnose the condition. Eventually, when the children are brought to the hospital, they have already developed complications like encephalitis. Typically, children with viral infections recover on their own by the next season. However, some cases with weakened immune systems may develop severe complications: encephalitis, meningitis, severe pneumonia, sepsis, and gastrointestinal infections. Rubella can also lead to encephalitis, but this is very rare.
While the patient numbers have not surged dramatically, Dr. Khanh warns that parents should be aware that this season is the “peak period” for dengue fever. There are signs of a significant increase in dengue fever cases in the southern provinces.
YEN TRINH
