Some signs of hand, foot and mouth disease such as mouth ulcers, gums, tongue, blisters on palms, feet...
According to the infectious disease surveillance report of 20 southern provinces/cities, by week 20 of 2023, 5.765 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease have been recorded and it is increasing gradually since week 18, of which 1 death was recorded.
In Tay Ninh, in the week of 21, 2023, the number of cases of hand, foot and mouth disease increased slightly in Chau Thanh, Hoa Thanh and City districts. Tay Ninh; Cumulatively, by the end of week 21, 2023, 74 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease were recorded across the province (21 cases in week 2023 of 29 alone).
The disease is common in children under 5 years old, especially in the age group under 3 years old. Children are at higher risk of contracting the virus and getting sick because they have weaker immune systems and less awareness of disease prevention than adults. However, all people who have never had the disease are at risk of infection through contact with the source of infection. Collective factors such as children attending kindergartens and kindergartens are risk factors for disease transmission, especially during outbreaks.
The main symptom of the disease is skin and mucosal lesions in the form of blisters in special locations such as oral mucosa, palms, soles, buttocks, knees. The disease can cause many dangerous complications such as encephalitis, meningitis, myocarditis, acute pulmonary edema leading to death if not detected early and treated promptly. Therefore, when a child has hand, foot and mouth disease, it is necessary to keep the child out of school and avoid contact with other children in the family and neighbours. Monitor the symptoms and progression of the disease, especially the warning signs of severe disease so that the child can be taken to the hospital in time.
3 warning signs of serious disease
Children crying continuously for a long time: when they have hands, feet and mouth, they may cry all night or wake up every 15-20 minutes and cry continuously. This is an early warning sign of neurotoxicity.
High fever unresponsive to treatment: The child has a fever above 38,5 degrees for more than 48 hours and does not respond to antipyretics.
Startle: This is a warning sign of neurotoxicity. Parents need to pay attention to how often their child is startled even when the child is playing.
Measures to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease
Currently, the weather in the South region in general and Tay Ninh province in particular is beginning the rainy season, the temperature and humidity of the environment changes, along with the increase in the exchange and travel, summer activities of the students, while their awareness and behavior of hygiene and prevention are not high, which are favorable conditions for the emergence and development of diseases, especially gastrointestinal diseases such as hand, foot and mouth disease. To proactively prevent hand, foot and mouth disease, people and communities need to take the following measures:
Personal hygiene: Wash hands often with soap under running water several times a day (both adults and children), especially before preparing food, before eating/feeding, before holding children, after walking hygiene, after changing diapers and cleaning the baby.
Food hygiene: Food for children needs to ensure enough nutrients; eat ripe, drink ripe; eating utensils must be washed thoroughly before use (preferably soaked in boiling water); use clean water in daily life; do not give food to children; do not let children eat, suck, suck on toys; Do not allow children to share napkins, handkerchiefs, eating utensils such as cups, bowls, plates, spoons, toys that have not been disinfected.
Cleaning toys, living places: Households, kindergartens, and home-based childcare households need to regularly clean surfaces and daily contact items such as toys, learning tools, doorknobs, stair handrails, table/chair tops, floors with soap or common detergents.
Children's waste collection and treatment: Using hygienic latrines, children's feces and waste must be collected, treated and dumped into hygienic latrines.
Early detection tracking: Regularly monitor the health of children. Do not allow children to come into contact with sick or suspected sick people. When detecting a child showing signs of suspected disease, it is necessary to take the child to the doctor and isolate it, promptly treat it according to the instructions of the doctor to avoid spreading the disease to other children.
Dinh Tien
