A doctor at the HCM City Children Hospital No.1 examines a child patient. The number of in-patients with respiratory infections at the hospital has soared in the last few days. Photo Phương Vy |
HCM CITY— The number of children with respiratory infections admitted to children’s hospitals in HCM City has soared in the last few days.
Four to six patients with respiratory infections have been forced to share a bed at the HCM City Children Hospital No.1’s respiratory department.
Early this week, the department with 100 beds has more than 460 patients.
The number of patients with respiratory infections increased twofold this week compared with previous weeks, according to Trần Anh Tuấn, head of the department.
Tuấn blamed unfavourable weather conditions on the rise in the number of children with respiratory diseases.
Provincial-level paediatrics hospitals failed to gain trust among local people who have rushed to major hospitals in HCM City for exams and treatment, he said.
The number of patients from other cities and provinces accounts for 60 per cent of the total patients at the hospital, according to Tuấn. Respiratory diseases will reach peak season in late September.
The HCM City Children Hospital No.2 also reported an increase in the number of patients hospitalised for treatment of respiratory infections in the last few days.
On Wednesday, the hospital’s respiratory department had a total of 388 patients, said Huỳnh Minh Thu of the hospital’s general planning department. —VNS