Many deaths

Since the beginning of June, the number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases has increased rapidly. According to Can Tho Children's Hospital, the development of hand, foot and mouth disease is currently quite complicated. According to Master, Doctor CK II Mr. Huy Thanh, Deputy Director of Can Tho Children's Hospital, since the beginning of the year, the hospital has treated nearly 1,400 inpatients and more than 5,800 outpatients. The total number of hospitalizations in July was 699, including 119 severe cases and 2 deaths due to hand, foot and mouth disease.

Since the beginning of June, in the provinces and cities of the Mekong Delta, hand, foot and mouth disease has tended to increase rapidly in number.

Not only Can Tho, according to a quick report from the Department of Health of Kien Giang province, on average, the whole province recorded 20 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease per day; the current number of patients is 1,117 cases, an increase of more than 47% over the same period in 2022 and there were 3 deaths.

Similarly, at An Giang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, since the beginning of the year, it has received about 500 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease. In June and July, the number of patients with hand, foot and mouth disease increased dramatically, with an average of over 250 cases per month, many times higher than the same period last year. The number of severe cases also increased compared to previous months, with some severe cases having to be transferred to higher levels.

The outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease is due to the reappearance of the EV71 virus strain - a dangerous and fast-spreading strain.

Lack of treatment

The reason for the rapid increase in the number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases is the appearance of the EV71 strain. This is a type of virus that causes severe cases and dangerous complications such as meningitis, acute pneumonia, and myocarditis. To treat the disease, a specific drug called IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin) is needed, but currently the drug supply at hospitals is running out.

To initially resolve the shortage of medicine for hand, foot and mouth disease treatment, Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Viet Nga, Deputy Director of the Can Tho City Department of Health, said: "The Department has directed not only the Children's Hospital but also public and non-public medical examination and treatment units to be ready to support consultation, consultation, admission and treatment of hand, foot and mouth disease patients transferred from lower levels in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Health. At the same time, it is necessary to propagate to the people that the temporary shortage of medicine is not due to difficult bidding."

As soon as you see signs of erythema, blisters appearing on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet... you need to take your baby to the hospital early for examination and treatment.

In An Giang, although no deaths have been recorded, the end of August and the beginning of September is the period when students return to school, which is a favorable condition for the hand, foot and mouth disease to spread rapidly. The An Giang Provincial Department of Health has requested medical units to proactively review resources, strengthen the operations of treatment facilities, prepare medicines, test reagents, equipment, medical supplies, etc. to promptly admit and treat cases of hand, foot and mouth disease. At the same time, training for medical staff on disease guidance and diagnosis, and monitoring of children with hand, foot and mouth disease who are being treated as inpatients is strengthened.

"We have directed the local health sector to increase propaganda to inform people about the signs of the disease, organize interdisciplinary inspection teams to monitor, inspect, support localities and promptly direct the work of preventing and controlling hand, foot and mouth disease; organize communication at schools, especially at nurseries, kindergartens and preschools about hand, foot and mouth disease. Implement classroom hygiene, environmental hygiene, ensure food safety in collective kitchens. Subordinate units closely monitor and supervise the epidemic situation, early detect and promptly handle newly emerging outbreaks," said Dr. Tran Quang Hien, Director of the An Giang Department of Health.

According to doctors, children and adults can get sick many times. Because the amount of antibodies produced each time they get sick decreases over time, in addition, the virus that causes hand, foot and mouth disease has more than 10 different strains belonging to the intestinal virus group, so patients can get sick many times. Along with the drastic intervention of the functional sector, before the complicated developments of hand, foot and mouth disease, parents need to pay attention to keeping their children clean. As soon as they see their children showing signs of erythema, blisters appearing on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, in the mouth, and sometimes appearing on the buttocks, knees or the most common symptoms in young children with hand, foot and mouth disease are mouth ulcers, ulcers that make children feel pain when eating, drinking... or high fever continuously, startled, panic when sleeping, shaking hands and feet, staggering, crying... need to take the child to the hospital immediately for timely examination, treatment, hospitalization for treatment.

Article and photos: THUY AN

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