An increasing number of children are suffering from respiratory problems, diarrhea, encephalitis and fever due to a recent spell of extreme heat and dryness, according to the Ha Noi-based Central Pediatric Hospital.
Approximately 1,150 to 1,300 patients are being hospitalized each day, the majority of whom are suffering from respiratory and digestive complaints, whilst the number of in-patients is rising to 1.5 times the hospital capacity.
A similar situation has been reported at Saint Paul hospital in Ha Noi. Since the summer began, the hospital has taken in 15-20 percent more cases than in the first three moths of the year; the hospital admitted 986 patients, including 464 infants on July 16.
The number of elderly patients at the National Institute of Gerontology has also increased to between 70 and 100 cases per day.
The heat wave also hit central Viet Nam, according to the Central Hydro-Meteorological Forecast Center.
Average temperatures in the north and central regions are between 37 and 39 degrees Celsius. However, temperatures in Con Cuong district (Nghe An province) and Huong Khe district (Ha Tinh province) have reached 43 degrees C.
Further to the problem, rain has not fallen in Nghe An province for over a month.
Nghe An residents are thus suffering from skin infections, sunburn, depression, and even mental diseases.
The Nghe An Mental Hospital normally receives 3-4 out of 150-200 inpatients a day, however, figures have shot up to 8-12 out of 240-270 during the recent hot spell, said Pham Kim Thin, the hospital director.
