Clinic's goal is to help soccer fans

Li Li (left), an African chimp, points at a German flag, signaling that Germany will beat Argentina in the finals of the 2014 World Cup, in a zoo in Yantai, Shandong province, on Sunday. Shen Jizhong / for China Daily

Acute inflammation of the gallbladder, acute pancreatitis, hypertension, angina and respiratory ailments were the top five diseases diagnosed by the World Cup Clinic, which was specifically set up by the Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Sichuan province, before the one-month soccer frenzy kicked off in Brazil on June 12.

Staying up late, excessive beer or liquor drinking and the hot weather combined to trigger the diseases, said Wei Ming, head of the hospital's emergency department.

The hospital offered the World Cup Clinic to meet the demand from fans falling sick in the aftermath of watching games.

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"Fans contracted acute inflammation of the gallbladder or acute pancreatitis after eating excessive amounts of food and drinking too much beer while watching games late at night," Wei said.

"Fans tended to suffer from hypertension and angina because they were too excited when watching games. Some of them suffered from respiratory diseases after drinking too much beer or liquor, then taking off clothes and catching a cold."

The idea of launching a World Cup clinic was first raised four years ago when the World Cup was held in South Africa.

"On the first day of the World Cup in South Africa, more than 20 patients who were drunk or suffered from diarrhea, hypertension or angina came to the hospital's emergency department. Some patients who wanted to return home and continue to watch games pestered medics to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment process. As a result, the department set up a special clinic for World Cup patients," said Deng Xule, a doctor at the hospital.

Compared with four years ago, this year witnessed fewer patients but more visitors seeking medical advice for healthier ways to watch games.

"People were more rational in watching games and showed more concern for their health. More people visited the clinic and simply asked how they should care for themselves if they had cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases when watching games," Wei said.

Contact the writer at huangzhiling@chinadaily.com.cn