'Tsunami lung' hits Samoans
Geraldine Coutts
Last Updated:
Samoan authorities are increasingly concerned about the rising number of health issues following the September tsunami.
The head of Pacific Health at Auckland University, Dr Teuila Percival, was in Samoa for a conference when the tsunami hit.
She told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat she offered her help to work with children - her speciality - and in the outpatients section of a hospital emergency department.
She says now conditions such as "tsunami lung" may shorten people's lives.
She said staff saw skin, soft-tissue and bone damage, and also treated near-drowning and aspiration, or breathing, problems.
Pneumonia among some Samoans caught in the wave was quite severe.
Scarring
"Tsunami lung" described aspiration pneumonia that could result in scarring and permanent damage to lung tissue, she said.
"So patients can end up with chronic lung disease, a condition called bronchiectasis," she said.
"They are more at risk of severe infections and pneumonia."
It may limit their ability to exercise and hold down jobs, because of reathlessness and limited lung reserves.
All patients need to be followed up so Samoan authorities can see how many have chronic lung disease and can design appropriate treatment.
She was pleased to know that head doctors were now working on follow-up of respiratory conditions, and the huge number of wounds seen earlier.
Bone injuries could worsen into chronic conditions, requiring surgery.
Some tsunami patients who had come to New Zealand also indicated resistant to common antibiotics.
"There is going to be a continuing workload from the tsunami," Dr Percival said.
   |
   |
Features
News programs on Australia Network
News programs on Radio Australia
 
|
