Ho Chi Minh City: The number of hand, foot and mouth cases increased by 4 times

Increasing number of infections

Specifically, in the first 4 months of 2022, the city recorded 936 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease. In which, 95% of children with the disease are between the ages of 1-5 years old. Particularly in week 18 (from April 29 to May 5), the city recorded 420 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, nearly four times higher than the average of the previous four weeks. The number of cases increased in both the group of pediatric patients hospitalized for inpatient treatment and outpatient examination.

Hand, foot and mouth transmitted by the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, the main preventive measure is to practice proper personal hygiene and environmental hygiene.

Number of cases Hand, foot and mouth there was an alarming increase in most districts, Thu Duc city, especially in district 12, Binh Tan, Go Vap, Hoc Mon, Tan Binh, Area 3 Thu Duc city. The latest hand, foot and mouth disease outbreak in Ho Chi Minh City occurred in 2020 with 16,361 cases, no deaths recorded. Mostly still occurs in school-age children.

The disease spreads quickly and easily becomes an epidemic

After all social activities return to normal after a 2-year hiatus due to Covid-19, experts predict annual epidemics in Ho Chi Minh City such as: dengue, hand, foot and mouth will be complicated this year. Therefore, it is very important to prevent disease early on, not to cause an outbreak and especially not to cause death.

Hand, foot and mouth disease in Vietnam is an infectious disease that circulates all year round, most often in children under 5 years old. The disease has a fast rate of spread, easy to become an epidemic, the time of outbreak is usually between March-May and August-September every year.

Most of the cases are mild, but in some cases the disease can be severe and cause dangerous complications such as encephalitis – meningoencephalitis, myocarditis, pulmonary edema lead to death should be detected early and treated promptly.

Children with hand, foot and mouth disease are treated at the City Children’s Hospital bvcc

Disease prevention by personal hygiene, proper environmental hygiene

HFMD Because of the fact that children are infected through the digestive tract, they are easily infected because they are related to personal hygiene practices and environmental hygiene. It is very important to instruct children and caregivers on personal hygiene, especially frequent hand washing with soap.

To actively prevent hand, foot and mouth disease, reduce the number of cases and deaths, and prevent outbreaks, people and communities need to take measures such as:

Wash hands with soap often for both children and adults, especially before adults contact and care for children.

Practice good food hygiene: Eat well, drink well; ensure the use of clean water in daily life; do not give food to children; do not let children eat, suck, suck on toys; Do not let children share napkins, handkerchiefs, eating utensils such as cups, bowls, plates, spoons, toys that have not been disinfected.

Regularly clean daily contact surfaces and tools such as toys, doorknobs, table/chair tops, floors, etc. with soap or common detergents. Do not allow children to come into contact with sick or suspected sick people.

When detecting signs of suspected illness in children, take them to the doctor, such as mild or moderate fever; tired; sore throat; profuse salivation; lesions and burning pain in the teeth or roots. 2-10 mm gray, oval-shaped vesicular rash on palms, feet, knees, buttocks, palpable, painless, non-itchy; sores on the lining of the cheeks, gums and tongue.

Close monitoring, early detection of signs of serious illness should take the child to the hospital as soon as the child has a high fever above 39 degrees Celsius that cannot be lowered with paracetamol; fussiness; startled several times; vomiting; trembling limbs; convulsions; heart beats fast.

Parents of children with hand, foot and mouth disease should keep their children out of school for at least 10 days to prevent spreading the disease to other children.