KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- Patients with heat-induced ailments have soared following weeks of hot and dry weather afflicting the country, according to a Health Ministry study in Port Klang.
Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the study found a dramatic increase in patients registering at the public hospital complaining about ailments relating to heat.
He said there were 1,412 cases in December last year but they increased more than three-fold to 4,297 cases in January.
Among the ailments were respiratory tract infections which rose from 419 cases in December to 1,322 in January, asthmatic cases from 32 to 124 and conjunctivitis cases from seven to 32, he told reporters at a briefing today on the health effects of the current hot spell that has triggered a rash of bush and forest fires and enveloped several states in thick haze.
The Department of Environment Saturday announced that the number of areas experiencing unhealth air quality had risen to 11 in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan from eight Friday.
Dr Chua said children below five and adults above 40 years of age, including people suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems and lung infection, were more prone to health problems in the present condition of poor air quality.
"Hot weather can bring health problems especialy to the high risk groups -- farmers, manual workers and athletes," he added.
He said heat rashes due to sweat and heat fatigue were two common symptoms resulting from extensive exposure to heat.
If not treated, a person could suffer from heat "syncope", whose sympthoms were giddiness and fainting, and this would be followed by heat cramp and finally heat stroke which could be fatal, he said.
He advised people to reduce outdoor activities, especially those in the high risk group, and extra-curricular activities for school children should be reduced if the air quality in the particular area was bad.
As precautionary measures, people should also drink more water and not wear tight clothes.
-- BERNAMA
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