Damp-heat Syndrome Study In Singapore

Damp-heat Syndrome refers to a kind of syndrome that caused by the hot and dampness evils, which can be visible in epidemic febrile diseases and internal injuried diseases. Damp-heat Syndrome is very common in Singapore. To study its characteristics has a high medical value and sociological significance.Our study would be done by reviewing past literatures and utilizing epidemic disease research methodologies. First,we make an overall review of theoretical origin of Damp-heat Syndrome. We can find that there are many representations on its etiology, symptoms, treatment, taboos and so on in ancient Chinese literature. The formation and development of Damp-heat Theory had been based on long-term medical practices of numerous physician. These theories promote the development of the theory of Febrile Diseases to a large extent. Through the study of ancient literature, we can lay a solid theoretical basis for the further study.Second, we make a literature review of modern research in Damp-heat Syndrome in recent ten years. From these literature we can see that many experts and scholars have done a considerable amount of research on Damp-heat Syndrome from all sorts of aspects. They have made a lot of useful explorations and achievements from its phenomenon to its nature, from the macro to the micro.The reason for Damp-heat Syndrome's universality in Singapore is closely related to its unique geographical environment, climate characteristics and the local people's eating habits. First of all, Singapore is located in Southeast Asia and belongs to a tropical maritime climate. It is almost hot and humid throughout the year, the weather is always warm and humid, which is the most important external factors that the local people are susceptible to get Damp-heat Syndrome. Secondly, rich diet and cold drinking in Singapore make the local people's body more easily to produce phlegm and endogenous dampness due to the failure of the spleen's transporting function. Once again, Singapore's particular geographical environment directly or indirectly affect the local people's constitution that producing the physical characteristics of damp-heat type and deficiency of qi or yin type. This characteristics make Damp-heat Syndrome more susceptible in clinical diseases.In research part, we use a questionnaire survey to study the local Chinese people's physical constitution during October 2008 to August 2009, and find that damp-heat type and deficiency of qi or yin type are the most common constitution in Singapore. In another research of 221 cases of Febrile Diseases in Singapore, we make a conclusion that Damp-heat Syndrome is more likely to get in Singapore, which takes a part of 59.7%in Febrile Diseases. Its common symptom are fever(usually not more than 40 degrees, much worse in the afternoon or at night or elevated temperature);dry mouth or thirst; stomach system symptoms include anorexia, chest expansion,abdominal distension,ect; headache or dizziness; sweating; restless and flushed face; body pain; redded tongue with yellow coating; slippery and rapid pluse.ect.The doctors in Singapore have done a lot of collective and exploratory work in the differentiation and treatment of Damp-heat Syndrome combined with its local environment, climate, physical characteristics and other practical factors on the basis of ancient Chinese literature. Their studies are gradually enriching and developing Singapore's Samp-heat Theory,which reflect the academic characteristics of doctors there.Because the climate of Singapore is much similar to LingNan region of China, where Damp-heat Syndrome is also very common. So in the attached part of article, we have summed up some representative doctors'study of Damp-heat Syndrome in LingNan for doctors'reference and learning in Singapore.