Psychological methods have proved helpful in the rehabilitation
of the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) patient in east
China's Anhui
Province, a doctor overseeing the treatment said.?
The patient, a 26-year-old female medical postgraduate surnamed
Song, had a normal temperature of 37.1 degrees Celsius on Friday
morning and saw further improvement in other vital signs such as
breath and blood pressure as well, according to Zhang Xuejun,
president of Anhui University of Medical Sciences.
Song is now receiving medical treatment at the No.1 Hospital
affiliated to the Anhui University of Medical Sciences where she is
studying as a postgraduate.
According to Zhang, psychological therapy has "played a
significant role in helping Song recover and produced good
effects." The therapy was introduced to counteract the fear that
may come over her and diminish her confidence to recover, Zhang
said.
According to the therapy, fellow students and teachers from the
university have been arranged to "talk" to Song through short
messages on mobile phones, to encourage her cooperation in
treatment.
In addition, Song was informed of her illness' developments and
analyses in a timely manner, in light of that she is a would-be
doctor and is likely to have professional and objective views on
her illness.
This was done to let her know that "her illness is nothing
dreadful, and she can recover" and to help build up her confidence,
the president said.
Song has been in a good mood since the psychotherapy began and
has a good appetite, Zhang said, adding that she sent him a short
message Monday saying "Thanks for the care from the university
authorities. I will try my best to recover."
According to Zhang, medical workers continued supportive
treatment, injecting albumin and blood plasma to help her regain
strength and improve immunity, while reducing the dosage of
antibiotics that were used to prevent secondary infection.
The Chinese Ministry of Health announced two SARS cases in Anhui
on Friday afternoon. The other was Song's mother, a suspected SARS
patient who died on April 19.
As a postgraduate of the Anhui University of Medical Sciences,
Song was sent to study at a Beijing-based research institute of
viral diseases under the Chinese Center for Disease Prevention and
Control (CDC) from March 7 to 22.
On March 23, Song went back to Hefei, capital of Anhui Province,
by train and then returned to Beijing by train after complaining of
fever on March 25. Later, she went to see doctors in Beijing and
Huainan City of Anhui Province. On April 4, she was transferred to
the No. 1 Hospital under the Anhui University of Medical Sciences
for further treatment.
The daily SARS surveillance report from the Ministry of Health
said Monday that "the Anhui patient surnamed Song is in stable
condition and none of the people with close contact with her has
showed abnormal symptoms so far."
Nationwide, China reported no new cases of SARS from 10 am
Sunday to 10 am Tuesday, the ministry said.
China has currently two diagnosed SARS patients. One is Song in
Anhui, and the other, surnamed Li, is in Beijing. Li has been in
stable condition and had normal temperature for 11 successive
days.
(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2004)