Subjective with common respiratory symptoms
After three days of subjectively buying medicine to treat the flu, Mr. L. (49 years old), residing in Cau Kieu ward, was taken to the emergency room at Gia Dinh People's Hospital by his family in a state of acute pneumonia and severe difficulty breathing. After being treated and released from danger, Mr. L. shared: "I thought I had symptoms of cough and mild fever, but I didn't expect the disease to get worse so quickly. Now I see that it is dangerous and cannot be taken lightly."
Similarly, Mrs. M. (70 years old) in Binh Thanh ward was also hospitalized for treatment when she suffered from severe pneumonia, which damaged both lungs. All of this stemmed from her taking medicine on her own when she had symptoms of a cold.
These stories are playing out in many hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City as the number of respiratory cases is increasing by about 20% compared to previous months.
According to Dr. Ho Quoc Khai, Deputy Head of the Department of Internal Medicine and Respiratory Medicine, Gia Dinh People's Hospital, common diseases during this period are pharyngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, flu, etc. and many acute episodes of chronic diseases such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis.
He said: “The main cause is the changing weather, high humidity, favorable conditions for bacteria and viruses to grow and spread quickly in closed or polluted environments. Children, the elderly or people with underlying diseases are most vulnerable.”
Infectious disease surveillance data in 2024 in the City recorded an average of 16,000 to 18,000 cases of respiratory infections per month. This number tends to increase in the last quarter of the year, that is, at the time of changing seasons when temperature and humidity often change suddenly.
Dr. Phan Vinh Tho, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases D, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, shared that respiratory infections are a common group of diseases because almost everyone has had them. However, the severity can range from mild to severe. "Patients often have symptoms of fever, runny nose, sore throat, but in severe cases, they may have difficulty breathing, cyanosis, and even require intensive care."
Respiratory diseases often break out strongly from October to December when the weather starts to get cold, humidity is high and the body has not yet adapted. Survey results from the Hospital for Tropical Diseases show that in cases of respiratory tract infections, viruses account for the highest proportion, especially rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus.
Especially for children under two years of age, respiratory syncytial virus is the most dangerous agent, and for adults, pneumococcal bacteria are the leading cause of serious complications.
Meanwhile, at the City Children's Hospital, on average, 1,500-2,000 children come for outpatient examinations every day, of which more than 50% have respiratory diseases. Doctor Nguyen Cat Phuong Vu, Department of Respiratory Medicine, said that during the changing seasons, the number of hospitalizations increases, sometimes having to put extra beds in the hallway.
Parents need to pay attention to early warning signs of respiratory infections in children such as prolonged high fever, rapid breathing, chest retraction, refusal to breastfeed, frequent lethargy or cyanosis. These are dangerous signs that require taking the child to the nearest medical facility for treatment to avoid dangerous complications.
Take proactive measures to prevent disease
According to health experts, although no new mutant virus strain has appeared, we cannot be careless. The health sector will warn of the risk of an outbreak if the flu virus mutates genes or antigens.
Respiratory infections are usually transmitted through three main routes: droplets, indirect contact and air in closed spaces. Therefore, experts recommend that people wear masks in public places, wash their hands regularly and cover their mouths when coughing, in addition to keeping their homes well-ventilated to avoid pollution.
Dr. Khai emphasized: “People with underlying diseases, children and the elderly should be vaccinated against influenza, pneumococcal disease, measles, whooping cough and respiratory syncytial virus as recommended. When experiencing symptoms of cough, fever, and difficulty breathing, you should see a doctor early, especially do not self-medicate or use antibiotics indiscriminately.”
For children, Dr. Vu noted: “Many parents think that because their children cough a lot, they give them strong cough medicine, but they unintentionally hide the symptoms, making the disease worse. Parents need to clean their nose and throat properly, give their children plenty of water, eat nutritious food, and vaccinate them fully, which is the best way to prevent the disease.”
The increasing number of respiratory infections is requiring increased public awareness and responsibility of the health system. Hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City are working closely with the Center for Disease Control to monitor, test, and trace the pathogens to promptly make forecasts and take effective measures to control the risk of epidemics.
From a community perspective, each person can contribute to protecting their own health with small actions such as wearing masks, keeping the living environment clean, not smoking, getting fully vaccinated and registering for early medical examination when detecting signs of health abnormalities.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/bao-ve-suc-khoe-ho-hap-thoi-diem-giao-mua-post916461.html
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