According to the Southern Hydrometeorological Station, in the coming days, Ho Chi Minh City and the Southern provinces and cities will have rain with a probability of 65-70%.
Dr. Dang Thi Ngoc Bich - Head of Dermatology - Skin Aesthetics, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City - said that the number of cases of skin diseases caused by flooding and high tides tends to increase. Currently, on average, Tam Anh General Clinic in District 7 and the hospital receive about 70-80 cases per day, an increase of about 20% compared to the previous month and the same period in 2023.
According to Dr. Bich, the number of skin diseases such as irritant dermatitis, eczema (atopic dermatitis), fungal infections, scabies, etc. increases annually. The common point of people with skin diseases during this period is that they live in low-lying areas, along rivers, or are exposed to flooded water sources such as District 7, Binh Thanh, Nha Be District; Can Gio. Chemicals, impurities, bacteria, germs, fungi, etc. in wastewater, garbage, decomposed animal carcasses from sewers, canals, trash cans, flooded toilets mix with rainwater, river water overflows onto many roads and houses, causing pollution and unsanitary conditions.
If not treated promptly, the disease can progress to more severe conditions such as skin ulcers, skin necrosis, ugly scars, and more dangerously, skin infections and slow-healing wounds. The fungus can spread throughout the body, causing widespread itching, reducing quality of life, or spreading to family members if towels, clothes, socks, etc. are shared.
Patient L.P.B (male, 21 years old, District 7) came to Tam Anh General Clinic, District 7 with many areas of calloused, cracked, bleeding, itchy and painful skin on both legs, and a fever of 39 degrees Celsius. Mr. B said that he had chronic atopic dermatitis since childhood but did not receive continuous treatment. These days, his house near Te Canal (District 7) is flooded in the afternoon by high tides. Mr. B had to soak his feet in water for many hours to prop up furniture in the house when the water rose. The doctor diagnosed the patient with an infection on top of atopic dermatitis, due to frequent contact with dirty water sources.
Doctors recommend that patients wear rubber boots and gloves when in contact with flood water. After contact, they should bathe thoroughly with soap and appropriate shower gel. Dry the body, especially between the fingers and in skin folds such as the groin, chest, armpits, and neck to reduce the risk of disease. People with a history of atopic dermatitis should apply moisturizer even when the disease has not recurred. Patients should also not self-diagnose or self-treat itching by soaking their feet in lime water, leaf water, or alum...
Doctor Vo Thi Doan Phuong - Head of Clinical Department 3, Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital - also warned that the rainy season is the right time for many skin diseases to break out, including scabies - a disease caused by parasites that is becoming a constant concern for many families with young children.
