Respiratory and lung specialist Dr dr Feni Fitriani Taufik, Sp.P(K),\nM.Pd.Ked, has urged the public to increase vigilance against the impact\nof haze from forest and land fires (karhutla), especially for vulnerable\ngroups.<\/p>\n
Feni said groups classified as vulnerable or most easily affected by\nkarhutla haze include pregnant women, children, toddlers, the elderly,\nand people with chronic respiratory and heart diseases such as asthma,\nchronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, and heart\nfailure.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese groups are very easily affected both by short-term and\nlong-term effects of forest fires. So families that have these\nvulnerable groups must be more alert,\u201d Feni said, quoted from Antara,\nWednesday (26\/8).<\/p>\n
Feni said acute symptoms that the public should watch for if exposed\nto karhutla haze include respiratory tract irritation, cough, runny\nnose, and eye discomfort. If complaints persist and interfere with daily\nactivities, especially if accompanied by fever, she advised seeking\nmedical attention at the nearest health facility immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there is a worsening or a condition that does not improve from\nthe daily condition in people who have these risk factors, or in healthy\npeople who become visibly sicker than usual, they must be taken to a\nhealth facility immediately,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The lecturer in the Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory\nMedicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, said\nkarhutla haze is dangerous to health because it contains many harmful\nsubstances, including gases and particles.<\/p>\n
In this regard, the gases contained include carbon monoxide, sulphur\ndioxide, ozone, and particulate matter (particles measuring less than 2\nmicrons). When forest fires occur, the concentration of these gases is\nmuch higher, exceeding the threshold values considered safe for the\nbody.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo of course, with these dangerous gases at high levels, it will\ncause effects or disease risks for people in the surrounding area,\u201d she\nsaid.<\/p>\n
According to Feni, people living near karhutla sites are at risk of\nvarious health problems, both in the short and long term.<\/p>\n
For acute effects, karhutla haze can worsen the condition of asthma\nsufferers and disrupt heart disease patients due to reduced oxygen\nsupply in the body. Meanwhile, long-term impacts can occur when acute\neffects do not recover.<\/p>\n
For example, acute respiratory infection (ARI) that is prolonged and\ndoes not heal immediately because the sufferer remains in a highly\npolluted area or their respiratory tract has not recovered. This\ncondition can cause persistent coughing, frequent illness, and the need\nfor hospital care.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen there can also be a decline in lung function if it continues.\nPatients with asthma or COPD or heart disease become increasingly\nuncontrolled, so morbidity rates and hospitalisation rates will\nincrease,\u201d Feni said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/haze-from-forest-fires-poses-danger-lung-specialist-warns-vulnerable-groups-at-highest-risk-1787759464", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }