PETALING JAYA: Private general practitioners (GPs) are seeing more patients requiring nebuliser treatment due to the haze.
“We are seeing more patients with cough, throat and eye irritation, blocked or runny nose, wheezing and worsening asthma during periods of poor air quality,” said Dr Eugene Chooi, secretary-general of the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations Malaysia.
“Some clinics are also seeing more patients requiring bronchodilator treatment or nebulisation, particularly those with significant bronchospasm.
“However, nebulisation should be based on clinical assessment; many milder cases can be managed effectively with a salbutamol inhaler and spacer,” he said.
Dr Chooi said the haze itself does not cause a viral upper respiratory tract infection, but polluted air can irritate the airways and aggravate an existing respiratory illness.
He advised the public not to wait until they find it difficult to breathe before seeking medical help.
“Monitor the air pollution index, reduce unnecessary outdoor activity when air quality is unhealthy, use a properly fitted N95 mask if prolonged outdoor exposure is unavoidable, and ensure your usual inhalers and medications are available,” he said.
“If there is persistent wheezing, worsening breathlessness, chest tightness or pain, difficulty speaking comfortably, or the usual reliever inhaler is no longer working, please seek medical attention promptly.
“As family doctors, we can treat an exacerbation when it happens, but prevention is still better. A little extra care now, especially for our children, elderly parents and vulnerable family members, may prevent a much more serious problem later.”
Former Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia president Dr Raj Kumar Maharajah said there is about a 20% surge in patients reporting haze-induced illnesses.
“Many patients are reporting being sick with respiratory illness and skin irritation. There is an obvious surge in numbers. Those with asthma are having their asthma aggravated, needing nebuliser,” he added.
A private GP, who only wanted to be known as Dr Lim, said his clinic is seeing an average of 10 asthma patients coming in for nebuliser each day.
“That is quite high because usually I will probably get one or two patients a day and there will be days where there is none at all. The haze has aggravated the asthma attacks for many patients,” he said.
President of the Malaysian Community Pharmacy Guild (MCPG) Sarah Abdullah said community pharmacies have been seeing an increase in demand for face masks.
“Patients are requesting N95 and KN95 masks. There is also an increase in demand for eye drops,” she said.
