At the Respiratory Medicine Department of Thong Nhat Hospital, inpatient numbers have increased sharply in recent days. The department treats between 70 and 80 inpatients a day despite having only 50 beds.

Most cases are severe and clinically complex, with many patients requiring close monitoring or respiratory support, pointing to a rising burden of respiratory and related infections in the early months of the year.

According to Dr Ngo The Hoang, head of the hospital’s Respiratory Medicine Department, hospital admissions for respiratory conditions have increased markedly, particularly among older patients and those with underlying illnesses. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent cough, sputum production, wheezing, chest tightness, fatigue and reduced mobility.

Respiratory diseases pose particular risks to older adults, as symptoms are often atypical. Many patients do not develop fever or have only mild fever, instead presenting with poor appetite, confusion, sleep disturbances or falls. These signs can delay recognition of illness and timely hospital admission.

Dr Hoang noted that most patients are not affected by a single respiratory condition but often have coexisting illnesses such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes or chronic lung disease. This overlap increases the risk of complications, prolongs treatment and contributes to higher hospital admission rates during holiday periods.

Apart from respiratory illnesses, other infectious diseases, including hand-foot-and-mouth disease and dengue fever, are also expected to increase following extended holidays.

Dr Tran Ngoc Luu of the Infectious Diseases Department at Children's Hospital 2 said the risk of transmission rises as children take part in recreational activities, gather in large groups and share toys and household items. For hand-foot-and-mouth disease, no vaccine is currently available in Vietnam, making preventive measures particularly important.

Health experts said the New Year holiday period is particularly sensitive for infectious disease control, as cold and humid weather coincides with increased travel, festivals and tourism. These factors heighten the risk of disease transmission, posing greater dangers to older people and young children.

Doctors advise the public to wear masks in crowded places such as bus stations, airports and festivals, and to wash hands regularly with soap or hand sanitiser, especially after contact with public surfaces. Close contact with people showing symptoms such as cough, fever or runny nose should be avoided, and keeping the body warm is recommended during colder weather.

Vaccination remains essential, particularly seasonal influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for older adults and people with underlying conditions. Patients with chronic respiratory diseases are advised to continue their prescribed maintenance treatment and not to stop medication during the holiday period.

Anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, worsening cough or increased shortness of breath should seek medical attention promptly rather than self-treating at home to avoid serious complications.

With hospitals often under pressure in the early part of the year, health experts stressed that prevention remains the most effective and sustainable solution, helping protect public health and ease the burden on the healthcare system.

Ho Chi Minh City faces burden of infectious diseases

VOV.VN - The Ho Chi Minh City Centre for Disease Control has announced that over recent weeks, the city has recorded a significant increase in cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), dengue fever, and measles.

Over 70 international scientists discuss infectious diseases in Binh Dinh

VOV.VN - More than 70 scientists and researchers from 17 countries around the world discussed infectious diseases as part of the MIDSEA Summer School, Workshop and Symposium in Binh Dinh province on June 24.