23/05/2025

FRIDAY | MAY 23, 2025

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Penang records 6,700 speech disorder cases GEORGE TOWN: A total of 6,781 children in Penang were diagnosed with speech or language disorders last year, said State Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen. However, he said the Penang Health Department only has seven speech therapists at government hospitals, with the average waiting time for treatment reaching 205 days. According to him, one of the efforts initiated by the Paediatric Department is training parents through various workshops and sessions so they can continue treatment at home and assist with their children’s therapy. “This initiative also aims to reduce the long waiting time for treatment,” he said. He was replying to Heng Lee Lee (PH Berapit) during the State Legislative Assembly sitting yesterday. Heng had asked about the number of children with speech and language disorders compared with the number of speech therapists in government hospitals and the average treatment waiting time. – Bernama Girl Guides told to focus on youth development KOTA BHARU: The Girl Guides Association Malaysia has been urged to ensure that every programme it carries out prioritises human capital development and nurtures each member’s potential at all levels, with a particular focus on the younger generation. Its president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said, so far, the association has successfully built on its core strengths of networking, teamwork, unity and inclusivity. “I sincerely hope that the collaborative networks established will continue and be further enhanced for more impactful programmes for the benefit and progress of us all. “On behalf of the association, I also wish to extend our highest appreciation to our strategic partners who have contributed, especially Istana Negara, the Kelantan government, the Implementation Coordination Unit, police, the Kelantan Palace and other parties,” she said in her speech at the Majlis Makan Malam bersama Wan Azizah dinner event on Wednesday night. – Bernama State Public Health and Environment Committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said Selangor recorded 39,233 cases as of epidemiological week 19, which ended on May 10. She noted a significant rise in infections between weeks 15 and 19, particularly after the first week of the Aidilfitri celebration. “The increase is attributed to more active movement of people, social visits, close interactions among children in crowded settings such as relatives’ homes, and the sharing of food and toys. “Another factor is the lax screening at childcare facilities, which has hampered efforts to detect and isolate symptomatic children,” she said in a statement yesterday. Jamaliah added that nine cases involving the Enterovirus 71 variant were reported – seven in Sabak Bernam and two in Hulu Langat. One patient in Sabak Bernam was hospitalised and has since fully recovered, while the others received outpatient treatment. She said most clusters occurred in childcare and early education centres, including nurseries, kindergartens, preschools and tuition centres at 42.8%, followed by primary schools at 5%, day care centres at 3% and secondary schools at 0.2%. The remaining 49% were home-based.

Perpetual torment from excessive sweating

don’t realise when it becomes a medical issue.” He said the lack of awareness among the public and general practitioners contributes to late diagnoses. “Many patients self-manage for years, only seeing a doctor after complications such as rashes or persistent infections.” He said the red flags include sweating that interrupts daily life – soaking clothes, ruining documents or dripping in air-conditioned rooms. “Night sweats without fever or suddenly needing to change clothes multiple times a day, are also signs.” He advised seeing a doctor, especially if symptoms appear suddenly in adulthood or are accompanied by unexplained weight loss, fever or chest pain. Genetics is a key factor, up to 50% of sufferers have a family history. Lim also pointed to urban anxiety and secondary causes, including diabetes, thyroid disorders and side effects from certain medications. Treatment is available in both public and private sectors. The bigger issue, he said, is recognition. “Hyperhidrosis isn’t listed in national health surveys. There’s no registry, no tracking. That limits funding, awareness and access to care.” He stressed the condition’s wider impact. “It affects how people choose their careers, how students perform in exams and even whether they participate in religious activities such as communal prayers or handshakes.” While new treatments such as sofpironium gel and microneedle radiofrequency are being developed, Lim said public education remains the most powerful tool. “Patients need understanding, access to care and support from schools, workplaces and families.”

o Individuals with hyperhidrosis may experience impact on confidence, relationships and even intimacy

Ű BY DEEPALAKSHMI MANICKAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

hygiene.” However, constant moisture can create an environment where skin infections are more likely to occur, despite good hygiene practices, he added. Treatment options vary, including topical antiperspirants such as Perspirex, iontophoresis (a non-invasive electrical current treatment), oral medication, Botox injections and, in severe cases, surgery. But they are often temporary, costly and hard to sustain. “Botox wears off after a few months, iontophoresis requires regular sessions and surgery is a last resort due to the risks,” she said. Treatment costs can range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of ringgit, putting it out of reach for many. However, social media has begun to change the narrative. “More people are seeking help after watching TikTok videos or influencers sharing their experiences with hyperhidrosis treatments. But even then, many only mention it casually during appointments for other issues.” She believes insurers should begin recognising the condition’s impact on mental, social and professional well-being. “The toll on quality of life is real and often underestimated.” Aesthetic dermatologist Dr Lim Ing Kien echoed these concerns, calling hyperhidrosis a “largely invisible” condition in Malaysia’s health landscape. “Globally, up to 3% of people are affected and it’s likely the same here. But our hot, humid weather blurs the line between normal and abnormal sweating, so many

PETALING JAYA: In Malaysia’s tropical heat, sweating is a fact of life but for some, it is a daily medical struggle drenched in stigma, silence and social discomfort. Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating, affects up to 3% of Malaysians but remains underdiagnosed and misunderstood, said Sultan Idris Shah Hospital internal medicine physician and dermatologist Dr Ishvant Kaur Sidhu. “Most people don’t seek help until it disrupts their daily lives, when their fingers slip off keyboards or they can’t grip a pen properly,” she told theSun. But beyond inconvenience, hyperhidrosis can deeply affect confidence, relationships and even intimacy. “Some patients feel so embarrassed by constant dampness that they start avoiding social interaction altogether,” she said. Ishvant explained the condition comes in two forms – primary hyperhidrosis, often hereditary and starting in adolescence, and secondary hyperhidrosis, which can be linked to medical issues such as thyroid disorders. It typically affects the palms, soles and armpits, although some experience full-body sweating. She said one major challenge is public perception. “There’s a widespread misconception that people who sweat excessively are unhygienic. That couldn’t be further from the truth. “Excessive sweating is a medical condition and does not indicate poor “Voluntary closures involved 63 nurseries, 81 kindergartens, 25 government-run preschools, 15 preschools, one care centre, six primary schools and one other premises. “Enforced closures included 168 nurseries, 157 kindergartens, 69 government preschools, 29 preschools, two care centres and 10 primary schools.” Jamaliah said the Selangor Health Department has instructed for increased sample collection, especially at institutions and among hospitalised patients, to improve monitoring and detection of virus variants. She advised parents not to send symptomatic children to care or educational centres, and to ensure they remain at home until fully recovered. Operators of early childhood education centres are also urged to refuse entry to symptomatic children, conduct health screenings at entry points and maintain a high level of hygiene. She added that the state government, through the Public Health Committee, will distribute educational materials on the disease, including information on symptoms and preventive measures, to nurseries and kindergartens in high-incidence areas. “This initiative aims to strengthen community awareness and preparedness. The state government remains committed to working closely with the Selangor Health Department and all relevant agencies to control the outbreak effectively.”– Bernama

HFMD situation in Selangor under control SHAH ALAM: The hand, foot and mouth disease situation in Selangor is under control and showing early signs of recovery following coordinated control measures. As of week 19, 627 premises were closed, 192 voluntarily closed and 435 placed under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.

Jamaliah advised parents not to send symptomatic children to care or educational centres, and to ensure they remain at home until fully recovered. – MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN