Semeru's ash rises pneumonia case
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20061020.G10&irec=9
MALANG, East Java: Ashfalls from Mount Semeru in East Java have had a severe impact on air quality in the region, resulting in more than 1,000 cases of pneumonia in the last 10 months.
The head of environmental health and disease prevention at the Malang, East Java, health office, Mulyatim Koeswo, said Tuesday that 75 percent of the pneumonia suffers were children, while the rest were adults and teenagers.
He said pneumonia was triggered by untreated respiratory illnesses. In certain cases, the condition could lead to death, especially in children under the age of five, he added.
Mulyatim said the children affected by the disease were mainly those who had not been immunized against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus. He said the disease easily affected malnourished children.
"Currently, there have been no deaths from the disease. All (cases) have been handled by the medical team at the hospital or community health centers," Mulyatim said.
Pneumonia's symptoms include a rising temperature, up to 38 degrees Celsius, breathing problems and a worsening cough. According to Malang health office data, between January and October this year 1,176 people in the regency have suffered light to serious pneumonia.
Mulyatim urged parents to immediately seek treatment if their children showed such symptoms.
He said it was important that people maintained clean and healthy lifestyles and not smoke around children. "For infants, breast milk will help them avoid getting the disease," he added.
He also asked residents wear masks while outside their homes, especially when riding motorcycles.
"Mount Semeru's volcanic ash can also cause pneumonia," he said.
Thick ash could be seen all over the city.
A resident, Putra Wisesa, said he was tired cleaning ashes from his car. "It's tiring if I have to clean up every time," said the 24-year-old university student. --JP
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20061020.G10&irec=9
MALANG, East Java: Ashfalls from Mount Semeru in East Java have had a severe impact on air quality in the region, resulting in more than 1,000 cases of pneumonia in the last 10 months.
The head of environmental health and disease prevention at the Malang, East Java, health office, Mulyatim Koeswo, said Tuesday that 75 percent of the pneumonia suffers were children, while the rest were adults and teenagers.
He said pneumonia was triggered by untreated respiratory illnesses. In certain cases, the condition could lead to death, especially in children under the age of five, he added.
Mulyatim said the children affected by the disease were mainly those who had not been immunized against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus. He said the disease easily affected malnourished children.
"Currently, there have been no deaths from the disease. All (cases) have been handled by the medical team at the hospital or community health centers," Mulyatim said.
Pneumonia's symptoms include a rising temperature, up to 38 degrees Celsius, breathing problems and a worsening cough. According to Malang health office data, between January and October this year 1,176 people in the regency have suffered light to serious pneumonia.
Mulyatim urged parents to immediately seek treatment if their children showed such symptoms.
He said it was important that people maintained clean and healthy lifestyles and not smoke around children. "For infants, breast milk will help them avoid getting the disease," he added.
He also asked residents wear masks while outside their homes, especially when riding motorcycles.
"Mount Semeru's volcanic ash can also cause pneumonia," he said.
Thick ash could be seen all over the city.
A resident, Putra Wisesa, said he was tired cleaning ashes from his car. "It's tiring if I have to clean up every time," said the 24-year-old university student. --JP