The number of infections increased, the appearance of Enterovirus 71 strain causing severe disease
According to the Center for Disease Control of Ho Chi Minh City (HCDC), hand, foot and mouth disease is an acute viral infection, transmitted by the gastrointestinal tract, common in young children and capable of causing large epidemics. As recorded from the infectious disease surveillance system, the number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases continuously fluctuated, tended to increase at week 15 and began to decrease until week 19, then continued to increase again at week 21.
Hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City also received many cases from other provinces, including deaths. This shows that hand, foot and mouth disease will be at risk of severe progression. Therefore, the prevention of hand, foot and mouth disease should be paid special attention.
In week 21 alone, 157 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease were recorded, an increase of 47% compared to the average of 4 weeks ago, of which the number of inpatients increased by 22% and the number of outpatients increased by 52%.
In addition, according to the results of microbiological monitoring of the causative agent of hand, foot and mouth disease, a positive case of Enterovirus 71 was also recorded. Hand, foot and mouth disease is mainly caused by the Enterovirus group of enteroviruses, two common groups. The most common are Coxsackie A2 and Enterovirus 16 (EV71). In particular, EV71 causes many dangerous complications.
Erythema in children with hand, foot and mouth disease
Motto 3 clean helps prevent disease
To prevent hand, foot and mouth disease, the health sector recommends following the 3 clean motto: clean eating, clean living, clean hands and playing toys. Follow the 5 keys to help prevent disease including:
First, wash your hands often with soap.
Second, practice good food hygiene, ensure the use of clean water in daily activities.
Third, clean children's daily contact surfaces and tools such as toys, school supplies, doorknobs, stair handrails, table tops, chairs, and floors with soap or detergents. normally.
Fourth, detect early signs of illness in children such as blisters on palms, feet, mouth sores, etc. to isolate them promptly and limit the spread.
Fifth, when the child is sick, it is necessary to closely monitor and detect early signs of severe illness such as a persistently high fever that is difficult to lower, vomiting a lot, startling movements, trembling limbs... children to the nearest medical facility.
In particular, when detecting a child showing signs of suspected illness, it is necessary to take the child to a doctor or immediately notify the nearest health agency.
