Luo Songsong
songsongluo@126.com
SHENZHEN has seen an increasing number of patients since the winter season began several weeks ago.
Shenzhen Children’s Hospital has treated more children diagnosed with rotavirus enteritis, respiratory diseases and scarlet fever than usual, most of them with symptoms such as coughing, vomiting and diarrhea. Song Ping, a doctor from the emergency department of the hospital, partially attributes the increase of patients with diarrhea to unhealthy eating habits.
She stressed that parents should feed their children with nutritious food instead of ceasing to feed them in such cases. Song also said that it’s a breakout time for scarlet fever and that although more than 20 patients had been diagnosed with the disease last week, the issue has been placed under control.
Scarlet fever is a disease caused by infection of the same bacteria that causes strep throat. The time between becoming infected and having symptoms is short, generally one to two days. The illness typically begins with a fever and sore throat. Then a rash usually appears on the neck and chest before spreading all over the body.
Shenzhen Sun Yat-sen Cardiovascular Hospital has also received many senior patients suffering from high blood pressure-related diseases, in part because low temperatures cause blood vessels to narrow, raising blood pressure in some cases. Weather-related variations in blood pressure are generally more prevalent in the elderly.
“Seniors need to keep warm, exercise indoors and go outdoors after the sun comes out. In addition, they need to measure their blood pressure regularly and mind their eating habits,” said Lin Zepeng from the hospital’s emergency department.
To help the homeless get through the winter, Shenzhen Relief Management Center has sent a group of eight social workers to patrol in Futian, Luohu and Nanshan districts and give them warm clothing. In the first three days of this week, the center had helped more than 80 homeless people.
Citizens can report through the QQ number 321740485, phone number 8241-9094, or through the official Sina Weibo account of Shenzhen’s civil affairs bureau to help the homeless.
After receiving reports, the relief center will send social workers to help them immediately.
The low for today will be 8 degrees Celsius and there will be a chance of rain tomorrow. The temperature will increase over the weekend, but the difference between the daytime and the nighttime will still be large.
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