Timely cure

A hospital in Sichuan province opens a special clinic for patients with symptoms related to smog.

Chen Shuying had been coughing for more than a week before she sought help at a new clinic for smog-related illnesses at the No 7 People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Wednesday afternoon.

“Never before have I coughed for so long. The doctor confirmed my fears that my symptoms were brought on by the smog,” the 79-year-old said.

Instead of prescribing antibiotics, a glucose drip or other kinds of medicine, the doctor gave her anti-allergy medicine and a bronchodilator, which dilates the air passages in the lungs, opening constricted airways. Both were prescribed in tablet form.

Since the clinic opened on Dec 9, it has seen nearly 200 patients who complained of smog-related illness, said Wang Qixun, an associate chief physician at the clinic.

“Smog has been more frequent in Chengdu since last year, and more people have been affected by it. So the hospital launched the clinic,” said Niu Weiyi, chief of the outpatient department at the hospital, which oversees the clinic.

The clinic sees on average more than 20 patients a day.

“While some do have smogrelated illnesses, many cough and get worried about the smog because there is a lot of talk of its negative effects,” Wang said.

The patients with smogrelated illnesses receive treatments similar to what Chen received. Wang and her colleagues usually tell patients with bronchitis and pharyngitis ( sore throat) from the smog that they can reduce its impact by wearing masks and not going outdoors when the weather is bad.

Traditional Chinese medicine physicians also tell them to rely on certain foods and drinks to offset the negative impact, Wang said.