Warning signs of severe hand, foot and mouth disease

Symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease has been increasing rapidly in recent weeks, with the emergence of the Enterovirus (EV71) virus that can cause serious illness. The Ministry of Health has requested preparations for disease prevention and control.

According to the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health), statistics from the Infectious Disease Surveillance System show that from the beginning of 2023 to now, the whole country has recorded 8,995 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, of which 3 patients died.

In particular, the number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases has tended to increase rapidly in recent weeks, and the appearance of Enterovirus (EV71) has been recorded, which can cause severe illness in some cases.

Children with hand, foot and mouth disease are mostly mild with typical symptoms including: fever, sore throat, lesions of the oral mucosa and skin mainly in the form of blisters commonly seen on the palms, soles, knees, and buttocks. However, in some cases, the disease can progress as severe as above and cause dangerous complications such as encephalitis - meningitis, myocarditis, acute pulmonary edema leading to death.

Severe symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease include:

1. Children cry continuously for a long time: When having hand, foot and mouth disease, children may cry all night or wake up every 15-20 minutes and cry continuously. This is a warning sign of early stage neurotoxicity.

2. Persistent high fever: When hand, foot and mouth disease becomes severe, the child may have a fever above 38.5 degrees Celsius for more than 48 hours and does not respond to paracetamol. This warns of a very high level of inflammation in the child's body that can easily lead to neurotoxicity.

3. Startled easily: This is a warning sign of neurotoxicity. Parents need to pay attention to how often their child is startled, even when they are playing.

If your child shows one of the three symptoms above, parents should take their child to a reputable medical facility for timely treatment.

To proactively prevent and control hand, foot and mouth disease, people and the community need to take the following measures:
1. Wash hands regularly with soap under running water many times a day (both adults and children), especially before preparing food, before eating/feeding children, before holding children, after using the toilet, after changing diapers and cleaning children.

2. Practice good food hygiene: eat cooked food and drink boiled water; ensure that eating and drinking utensils are washed thoroughly before use (preferably soaked in boiling water); ensure that clean water is used in daily activities; do not feed children; do not let children eat with their hands, suck their fingers, or suck on toys; do not let children share napkins, handkerchiefs, eating and drinking utensils such as cups, bowls, plates, spoons, or toys that have not been sterilized.

3. Regularly clean surfaces and objects that are in daily contact such as toys, school supplies, doorknobs, stair railings, table/chair surfaces, and floors with soap or common detergents.

4. Do not let children come into contact with sick or suspected sick people.

5. Use sanitary toilets, patient excreta and waste must be collected and disposed of in sanitary toilets.

6. When detecting signs of suspected illness in children, take the child to see a doctor or immediately notify the nearest medical facility.

Dinh Tien

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