Hot weather increases children's illness

On the morning of August 4, hundreds of parents brought their children to the Da Nang Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital for medical examination. Photo: LE HUNG

Pediatric patients increase

In early August 2025, the number of pediatric patients coming for examination and treatment at hospitals in Da Nang city increased compared to previous months.

On average, every day, Da Nang Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital receives from 1,000 to 1,200 pediatric patients for examination, emergency care and treatment. Among them, many pediatric patients come from Quang Ngai, Gia Lai , Hue...

Early morning of August 4, at the Da Nang Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital, we saw hundreds of parents bringing their children waiting to be examined.

By 8am, the hallways and waiting rooms on the second floor of the hospital were packed with parents and children. The parents were walking around busily, carrying their babies in their arms, making the atmosphere in the examination rooms even more stuffy.

According to the leader of the Da Nang Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital, compared to normal times, the number of children coming for examination and treatment has increased by 20-30%. The increase in children coming to the hospital has made doctors and nurses "dizzy".

While waiting for her turn to take her 21-month-old son to the clinic, Ms. Bui Thi Hao (living in Hoa Cuong ward) said: “It has been hot these past few days, my son has had a fever, his throat is always wheezing, he doesn’t want to play. Coming here, I see that there are countless children hospitalized this season.”

Next to her, Ms. Le Thi Hoang Thi (residing in Quang Ngai province) tiredly said: “My daughter has intestinal inflammation, her family took her to Da Nang Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital for examination. We left Quang Ngai at 4:00 and arrived here at 6:30. I thought I was early, but when I arrived, I saw hundreds of parents holding their children waiting. Because we had to wait in line, even though it was almost 10:00, my child still had not been examined.”

To ensure good examination and treatment for pediatric patients, the General Examination and Emergency Department (Da Nang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital) mobilized 100% of doctors and nurses to expand the types of examinations; at the same time, extending examination time to handle all patients during the day.

Doctor Le Van Dung, Deputy Head of the General Examination and Emergency Department (Da Nang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital) informed that the number of pediatric patients coming for examination, emergency care and treatment at the department in recent days has increased compared to previous months, with an average of 1,000 - 1,200 pediatric patients coming for examination each day, at times nearly 1,500 pediatric patients.

Children are hospitalized mainly for respiratory diseases, digestive diseases, food poisoning, dermatitis, allergies, injuries, etc.

Proactively prevent diseases for children

Not only in hospitals, the heat and the increase in the number of pediatric patients also make private clinics crowded. At private clinics specializing in pediatrics in the city, although they only provide services outside of office hours, the number of pediatric patients coming to see a doctor is very high, each day there are about 30-50 pediatric patients coming to see a doctor at a clinic.

Doctors at Da Nang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital examine a child patient. Photo: LE HUNG

At the clinic on Thanh Thuy Street (Hai Chau Ward), dozens of parents were holding their children and waiting for the doctor to examine them. The hot weather combined with the children’s crying and screaming made the atmosphere in the clinic even more stuffy and hot.

Ms. Bui Thi Hong Hanh (residing in Son Tra ward) expressed: “I saw that my child had a fever, was tired, and had no appetite for the past two days, so I took him to see a doctor. I chose a private clinic because I thought it would be faster than the hospital, but when I got here, I found out that I also had to wait. My child's pain has seriously affected my husband and I's work. There was no one to look after him and I couldn't take him to daycare, so I had to take leave to stay home and take care of him.”

According to doctors, if the heat continues as it is now, the number of children suffering from digestive and respiratory diseases, dermatitis, viral fever, rashes, etc. will continue to increase.

Doctor Le Van Dung recommends that to prevent diseases during hot weather, parents should keep their children clean and limit their exposure to the sun during peak hours from 10am to 4pm.

At the same time, provide adequate water and nutrition to enhance children's resistance.

In particular, pay attention to disease prevention and hygiene, food safety and fully vaccinate children according to the expanded immunization program.

“When eating, children need to eat cooked food and drink boiled water, and prepare food appropriately; do not let children eat cold food taken directly from the refrigerator or freezer. If children show signs of abnormal health, they should be taken to a medical facility for timely examination and treatment,” said Dr. Le Van Dung.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/nang-nong-lam-gia-tang-tre-mac-benh-3298667.html