NONTHABURI, 18 September 2015 – The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has warned the public to be cautious of the pneumonia disease during the rainy season, after the number of pneumonia patients are increasing this year.
The DDC Director-General Sopon Mekthon has revealed that the high humidity during this rainy season has increased the chances of contracting respiratory diseases, especially those with weak immune systems. One of the most common diseases with high health risks is pneumonia.
He cited the report from the Bureau of Epidemiology, showing that the number of pneumonia patients in Thailand from 1 January 2015 to 14 September 2015 is at 133,949 persons, with 371 fatalities. Most of the patient are aged over 65 years at 33.2 percent, followed by persons aged between 55-64 years at 11.18 percent, and infants aged below a year at 9.03 percent.
According to the Bureau of Epidemiology’s report, the top five provinces with the most numerous pneumonia cases are Sisaket, Ang Thong, Maha Sarakham, Chiang Rai, and Chachoengsao.
The DDC Director-General has said that the risk groups are children under 5 years of age, elders, and persons with chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, or immune system deficiency.
Pneumonia is a harmful disease that can be contracted through bacterial or viral contraction, and generally shows the symptoms similar to regular colds about three days after contraction. Definitive symptoms include high fever, coughing with phlegm, mucus colour change from yellow to green, chest pain, and panting. However symptoms might not be evident in children or elders, who will require extra attention.
Patients that begin to exhibit these symptoms are encouraged to seek immediate medical attention to reduce the potential harm from this disease.
