As a heatwave is raging in Vietnam’s southern region with temperatures up to 39 degrees Celsius, many children have fallen ill and been hospitalized for treatment, according to a Ho Chi Minh City hospital.

>> Temp in South may soar up to 43°C

The number of children admitted to Children’s Hospital No. 1 in HCMC’s District 10 for treatment has begun to increase as the heatwave covers the region, said Dr. Pham Van Hoang, deputy head of the hospital’s Examination Department. The hospital has examined about 7,000 children per day over the past few days, compared to the usual 6,000 kids per day, he said. Respiratory diseases, diarrhea, and hand-foot-mouth disease in children have increased the most during the past several days, Dr. Hoang said. If the hot weather continues, the number of sick children will increase sharply in coming days, he warned.Tuoi Tre reporters saw the examination areas at the hospital crowded with children and their parents on Monday, many of whom had to sit in the hospital corridors, waiting to be seen by a doctor. “In hot weather conditions, children often perspire more than normal, are easy to fatigue, and experience reduced immunity,” Dr. Hoang said. “They can also suffer from a lack of water and electrolytes, making them more vulnerable to illnesses.”   In order to avoid becoming sick from the hot weather, children should wear thin, light, loose clothing and stay in cool and ventilated areas. Parents should prevent their children from being exposed to sudden changes in temperature. For example, children should not be taken immediately from an air-conditioned room to the extremely hot air outside. Children should drink more water than usual on hot days and eat plenty of vegetables and fruits. They should also be encouraged to wash their hands before and after meals, and after using the toilet.Prolonged heatwave The southern region is now entering the peak of the dry season, characterized by many hot and muggy spells, said Nguyen Minh Giam, deputy director of the Southern Hydro-Meteorological Station. The highest temperature in many areas in southern Vietnam has increased from 38 degrees in the past few days to 39 degrees on March 17 as it was in Dong Phu District, Binh Phuoc Province. In some urban areas, where there are many concrete buildings but there is a low density of green vegetation, the highest temperatures may sharply increase to 42-43 degrees, the station said. In Ho Chi Minh City, the highest temperature rose to 38 degrees at 1:00 pm on Monday after reaching 37 degrees a few days earlier. At 11:00 pm this morning, the temperature in the city was 33 degrees and the highest today is forecast to be 34 degrees, Giam said. The hot weather will continue for several days before it begins to lessen. However, the weather will become hotter again later and will last until the end of April or early May, the deputy director warned.