Changing seasons: Flu epidemic increases rapidly, hand, foot and mouth disease is still at its peak

The changing weather creates favorable conditions for winter-spring epidemics to break out. In Hanoi, the number of seasonal flu cases is increasing rapidly, while in Ho Chi Minh City, the number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases continues to increase.

Doctors at the National Children's Hospital examine children with hand, foot and mouth disease - Photo: D.LIEU

Hand, foot and mouth disease is still at its peak.

According to the Hanoi Center for Disease Control (CDC), last week the city recorded 116 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease in 61 wards and communes. The cumulative number of cases in 2025 was 5,693; the number of cases increased compared to the same period in 2024 by 2,368 cases.

Meanwhile, in Ho Chi Minh City, the hand, foot and mouth disease epidemic is on the rise. Last week, the city recorded 1,481 cases, an increase of 42% compared to the average of the previous 4 weeks. The total number of cases from the beginning of the year to week 45 is 29,395. Areas with high number of cases per 100,000 people include Con Dao, Nha Be and Binh Tan.

The Ministry of Health warns that hand, foot and mouth disease is showing signs of increasing nationwide, especially in the southern provinces and cities.

Doctor Hoang Van Ket, Head of the Pediatric Intensive Care Department, Duc Giang General Hospital, said hand, foot and mouth disease often starts mildly and is easily confused with common mouth ulcers or skin allergies.

Children may have a mild fever of 38-38.5°C, a rash or blisters on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, knees, buttocks, accompanied by mouth ulcers that make the child fussy and refuse to eat. When seeing many of these symptoms at the same time, you need to take your child to the doctor for proper diagnosis and care.

To prevent hand, foot and mouth disease, experts recommend that parents and caregivers take preventive measures such as washing hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet.

Regularly clean toys, floors, and doorknobs with chlorine-containing disinfectants. Do not let children share personal items such as cups, bowls, spoons, and towels. When children are sick, isolate them at home for at least 7-10 days and do not go to school.

At the same time, teachers and schools strengthen monitoring of students' health, early detection of cases for timely treatment.

Seasonal flu on the rise in Hanoi

According to the Hanoi CDC, winter-spring epidemics, especially seasonal flu, are on the rise. Since the beginning of November, many hospitals in the area have recorded a high number of flu cases, mainly children.

At the National Children's Hospital, in the first week of November alone, more than 1,500 cases of flu were admitted, of which more than 150 children had to be hospitalized due to complications such as pneumonia, otitis media or convulsions due to high fever. Not only children, but the number of seasonal flu cases in adults has also increased recently.

Dr. Doan Thi Phuong Lan, Deputy Director of the Respiratory Center, Bach Mai Hospital, warned that influenza spreads rapidly through the respiratory tract, especially in communities with low vaccination rates. The elderly, people with underlying diseases, pregnant women and children under 5 years old are susceptible to influenza and serious complications.

Seasonal flu usually starts with symptoms of fever, dry cough, runny nose, headache, fatigue, muscle pain. However, in children and people with underlying diseases, the disease can progress rapidly, causing serious complications such as severe pneumonia, respiratory failure, myocarditis, encephalitis, dehydration, convulsions due to high fever and respiratory bacterial superinfection.

Experts recommend that to prevent seasonal flu, people need to maintain key personal hygiene habits.

Washing your hands with soap and water after coughing, sneezing, touching public surfaces, or coming into contact with sick people helps reduce the spread of viruses. If water is not available, use hand sanitizer.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your elbow when coughing or sneezing to prevent the spread of viruses. Avoid covering your mouth with your hands to limit the spread. Also, keep your distance from people with flu symptoms or wear a mask when you must come into contact.

Strengthening natural immunity is also very important. Adequate nutrition, increased vegetables, vitamins C, D, zinc; drinking enough water; getting enough sleep and regular exercise help the body fight pathogens better.

Cleaning your living environment by wiping down frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, telephones, and keyboards with disinfectant solution also helps reduce the risk of infection. If you know someone around you has the flu, limit close contact; if you have symptoms, stay home to avoid infecting others.

In addition, annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone from 6 months of age, especially the elderly, young children, pregnant women and people with underlying medical conditions.

In case of fever, cough, sore throat persisting, you should go to a medical facility for early examination and treatment to limit serious complications.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thoi-tiet-giao-mua-dich-cum-tang-nhanh-tay-chan-mieng-van-trong-thoi-ky-cao-diem-20251117153014972.htm