KUALA LUMPUR: General practitioners (GPs) are seeing more patients with respiratory complaints, but private hospitals say they are coping with the haze for now.
With the haze expected to linger for two more weeks, doctors are concerned about the effects of prolonged exposure to polluted air, particularly among vulnerable individuals.
Symptoms include coughing, throat irritation, blocked or runny nose, eye irritation, wheezing and asthma exacerbations.
Federation of Private Medical Practitioners' Associations president Dr G. Shanmuganathan said GPs were seeing more patients with symptoms associated with poor air quality.
"If unhealthy air quality persists for another month, GP clinics should anticipate increasing consultations for cough, throat and eye irritation, wheezing, asthma exacerbations and worsening of existing conditions.
