The wet weather currently blanketing the country was making it easierfor bacteria to spread, resulting in an increase of respiratory anddigestive diseases, and chicken-pox among children in both northern andsouthern areas, according to doctors.

Nguyen Thanh Nam, deputyhead of the Paediatrics Ward at the Ha Noi-based Bach Mai Hospital, saidthat most children admitted to the hospital were under two years old.

Onthe average, the ward examined 250 children per day, and about 80-100of them were hospitalised with fever, respiratory diseases and denguefever.

"The ward only has 60 beds, so many children have to share," said Nam.

ChuAnh Van, head nurse of the Respiratory Diseases Department at theNational Paediatrics Hospital, said that the number of childrensuffering from pneumonia and bronchitis had increased sharply.

"We have 88 beds full of children, and we are having to move some to other wards to prevent diseases from spreading," said Van.

InHo Chi Minh City, doctors at the Paediatrics Hospital No 1 said thatthe number of child chicken-pox cases had increased in recent days.

TruongHuu Khanh, head of the Isolation Ward, said that each day the hospitalreceived 5-6 children. They were hospitalised with septicaemia and skinpoisoning as the after-effect of chicken-pox, he said.

Tran DacPhu, Director of the Preventive Medicine Department under the Ministryof Health, said that the abnormal weather had lowered people'sresilience, especially children and the elderly.

Since thebeginning of this year, 5,200 cases of dengue fever have been reported,resulting in three deaths. The number of cases has increased by 27percent compared with the same period last year.

Phu said that to prevent diseases, children should be given vaccines based on the ministry's schedule.

Children with diseases should be isolated, and environmental and personal hygiene should be ensured.

If children show symptoms of disease, they should be taken to the hospital in time for proper treatment.-VNA