Hundreds suffer acute respiratory infection in Banjarbaru, mostly toddlers

Banjarbaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Haze in Banjarbaru has impacted the health of its residents. Hundreds of people, especially toddlers, suffered from acute respiratory infection (ISPA) and the number increased significantly.

One of which in Guntung Payung Public Health Service Post (Puskesmas) in the Sub-district of Landasan Ulin, Banjarbaru. "In the last one month the number of people who suffered acute respiratory infection keep increasing as a result of haze from land fire," said head of the puskesmas, doctor Indriyani Yanuareni, Saturday.

Last August 2019, she said, 414 sufferers were recorded. They consisted of 150 toddlers aged 0-5 and 264 people above 5 year, childs, and adults.

As the smog got worse in September, 266 people were diagnosed to suffer from ISPA in the last two weeks. 82 of them are toddlers and others are children and adults.

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"The infection (ISPA) is characterized with itchy or sore throat, sneezing, nasal congestion, and cough. Unhealthy air like smog from land fire is of course very vulnerable to bring pain due to lack of oxygen to cause dizziness and nausea and also sore eyes," Indriyani explained.

She appealed to residents to better stay home, and to reduce activities outside to avoid acute respiratory infection. If people need marker, they can get it for free at puskesmas or posyandu (integrated health service posts).

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"We have distributed masker to Guntung Payung and Syamsudin Noor Urban Village and posyandu as well. We also submit maskers to neighborhood units (RT) and community units (RW). Residents can ask for it to them or to puskesmas," she said.