An impact of great flood on health among victims in Thailand- a descriptive study based on emergency relief activities

Abstract

Introduction
Floods are the most common natural disaster. Although infectious diseases are paid attention in flood settings, public health impact from other diseases has been rarely discussed. In Thailand, a large-scale flood disaster severely affected local people and the societies mainly in the North and Central regions due to unusual heavy rain in 2011. To provide information on health issues from a prolonged flood, we reported the health issues among the patients in several areas of Thailand where a flood lasted more than 1 month.
Methods
Data on the patients were extracted from records of the collaborated activities between two NGOs in Thailand and Japan in three areas of two provinces in the Central region at the end of November, 2011. The data on the venues were also abstracted: main stations for medical care in three areas and mobile clinics at evacuation centers (tent, temple, and school) in two areas. We evaluated distributions of health issues, and examined the characteristics of the distributions stratifying by place and patients' age.
Results
High prevalence was observed for muscle and joint pain, chronic diseases, and acute respiratory infections. Among patients with the infections, 96 % or more was those with upper respiratory infections. In the evacuation centers, the prevalence of acute respiratory infections was high (39 %) at school compared to that at other places. The prevalence of muscle and joint pain sharply increased among patients in their 30's, which was highest among those in their 40's and 50's.
Conclusions
Muscle and joint pain, chronic diseases, and acute respiratory infections were main issues in this flood setting. This study would provide information on potential health issues in the coming floods. Future research is needed to examine whether an occurrence of flood disaster could be associated with increased risk of muscle and joint pain.