Patients crowd hospitals during Chinese New Year

Common complaints at large hospitals in northern and central Taiwan included gastroenteritis, flu, strokes, heart disease and accidental falls. Outpatient clinics were closed during the holiday.

Thousands of patients visited central Taiwan's hospitals each day, and according to a doctor at Changhua hospital, the number of visiting patients has increased 20 percent on last Chinese New Year holiday. In the north, the hospitals had to increase staff to take care of hundreds of patients, local media reported.

Because of the closure of clinics at hospitals, doctors also suggested patients who took patent medicine not to drive in case of side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness and headaches. Patients suffering with severe diarrhea and prolonged fever should go to hospital immediately if their symptoms do not improve after taking patent drugs, doctors warned.

During the remainder of the holiday, doctors advise people to eat normally, wrap up warm, take medicine when necessary and avoid prolonged exposure to sick people.

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