Ministry of Health recommends preventing hand, foot and mouth disease during the back-to-school season

In August alone, the country recorded more than 11,000 children with hand, foot and mouth disease, of which 6 died. Compared to the same period last year, the number of cases has decreased by more than 70%.

According to the Ministry of Health, since the beginning of this year, the country has had over 76,000 new cases, of which 41 children have died.

Nationwide, the number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases is decreasing. In Ho Chi Minh City alone, the disease is accelerating. Statistics from the Ho Chi Minh City Preventive Medicine Center show that hand, foot and mouth disease patients in August increased by more than 86% compared to July.

Last year's hand, foot and mouth disease epidemic peaked in mid-September. Photo: DN

A representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Preventive Medicine said that the number of cases recorded at hospitals in August was 2,258, while in July there were only 1,212 cases. Compared to the cumulative number from the beginning of the year to date of 7,804 cases, August had the highest number of cases detected.

There were no deaths. Based on the chart of cases and a few cases of serious complications due to late hospitalization, doctors said that hand, foot and mouth disease is at its peak season and parents need to be vigilant.

As it is the start of the school year, the Ministry of Health has also advised localities to step up epidemic prevention efforts and try to keep the number of cases from increasing rapidly in September. Last year, the peak of the epidemic was in mid-September.

Statistics show that only 30-40% of children who get sick get it at school. Meanwhile, in the community, there are many people infected with the virus who do not show symptoms (both adults and children). Therefore, keeping children home from school is not the optimal solution to prevent the spread of the disease.

Depending on the type of disease, there may be typical symptoms or not. Children may have a high fever of 39, 40 degrees Celsius and not respond to antipyretics, but some children only have a mild fever. Most children will go through 4 typical stages of the disease including incubation, onset (mild fever, fatigue, sore throat...), full-blown stage (mouth ulcers, blister-like rash on the palms, soles, knees...) and the remission stage. In addition, even though the child has a fever, the child's hands and feet feel cold to the touch.

According to experts, if a child has a fever and blisters on the hands, feet, and mouth, mothers do not need to take their children to the hospital immediately but need to monitor them closely. Even if the child has a fever but still eats and plays well, there is no need to worry too much, because the child has resistance, and a mild illness will go away on its own. If the child has a high fever of over 39-40 degrees Celsius, vomits, has diarrhea, sleeps poorly, is startled, tired, and sluggish, parents need to take the child to the hospital immediately. These could be signs that the child's illness is getting worse.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is caused by an intestinal virus. There is no vaccine or specific treatment. It is complicated to spread and has a long elimination period. The rate of healthy people carrying the virus is high, and adults can transmit the disease to children.

Doctors recommend that families with children under 5 years old must always ensure personal hygiene and community hygiene. Parents and caregivers need to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and clean water before preparing food for the baby, after using the toilet, changing clothes for the baby, after returning from the hospital, traveling home, etc.

According to Vnexpress - (NT)