Nghe An: Children with measles increase dramatically

Baby Nguyen Phuong Thuy, 4 months old, was admitted to the Tropical Diseases Department - Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital for treatment on December 31, 2018. Up to this point, baby Thuy is still on a ventilator due to measles complications that caused severe respiratory failure.

Thuy's mother - Ms. Nguyen Thi Ky in Trung Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, said: "Before coming here, she had been treated for ear infection at the ENT Department. After returning home for about a week, she developed a red rash, first in her mouth, then spreading all over her face, then all over her body. Then she had a high fever, runny nose, stopped breastfeeding, had difficulty breathing. When she was taken to the hospital, she found out that she had measles with severe respiratory complications."

The Department of Tropical Diseases has become an isolation area for the exclusive treatment of measles. Photo: Thanh Hoa

Baby Thuy is just one of many measles cases that have had to be treated at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital recently. According to a report from the Department of Tropical Diseases - Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital: From August 2018 to January 3, 2019, there were more than 1,000 measles cases treated at the department; of which 90% of children had complications to the lungs and every day there were 3-5 children hospitalized due to respiratory failure due to complications of measles.

Investigation of the cause of the disease shows that: Most cases of measles are due to not being vaccinated, or not being fully vaccinated against measles (the main reasons are that children are sick so vaccination is delayed and late, parents do not take their children for vaccination or do not take them on schedule so they do not have enough immunity)... In addition, there are children with weak resistance who are infected with measles from others or infected when going to the hospital for examination and treatment.

According to a specialist at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital: The number of cases of measles with complications has increased significantly compared to the average of previous years. The reason is that with initial signs such as fever, cough, runny nose, measles is easily confused with respiratory diseases or rash fever. Therefore, many parents are subjective, buying medicine to treat themselves until the disease does not go away and when they are taken to the hospital, complications have already occurred. On the other hand, because they are not isolated and treated promptly, the disease can easily spread and infect.

The case of 11-month-old Bui Anh Thu, who had measles and respiratory failure complications, is a specific example. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Thoan in Nam Giang commune, Nam Dan district (Thu's mother) said: "At first, she had a rash in her mouth. Her family thought she had mouth ulcers, so they bought medicine for her to take, but it didn't help. Instead, her illness got worse. She had a high fever and convulsions and was taken to the hospital, and then her family found out that she had measles and respiratory failure complications. She was sick often, so we didn't take her for a measles vaccination."

Bui Anh Thu, who has respiratory failure due to complications from measles, is being treated at the Tropical Diseases Department. Photo: Thanh Hoa

In the past 2 weeks, measles has been increasing rapidly, with complicated developments, mostly involving children who are not old enough to be vaccinated against measles. To avoid cross-infection, the Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital has had to dedicate the entire Tropical Diseases Department to focus on treating and isolating children with measles, including endoscopy and X-rays performed right in the department.

Dr. Tran Thai Phong, Department of Tropical Diseases, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital recommends: Parents should proactively take children from 9 months to 2 years old who have not been vaccinated or have not received 2 doses of measles vaccine or children from 1 year old to 14 years old who have been fully vaccinated against Measles - Rubella on schedule. Measles is highly contagious, do not let children get close to or come into contact with children suspected of having measles. Wash your hands frequently with soap when caring for children.

Keep your child's body, nose, throat, eyes and mouth clean every day. Make sure your home and toilet are clean and airy. Improve your child's nutrition. Nurseries, kindergartens and schools where children gather should be kept clean and airy; regularly disinfect toys, learning tools and classrooms with common disinfectants. When signs of fever, cough, runny nose, or rash are detected, isolate the child early and take him or her to the nearest medical facility for examination, advice and timely treatment.

Faced with the complicated developments of measles, the Provincial Center for Preventive Medicine has issued a document directing district, city and town preventive medicine centers to strengthen measles prevention work; grasp the situation and report promptly to have prevention plans to prevent an epidemic./.

Measles is an infectious disease caused by the measles virus. The disease is common in children under 5 years old or can also occur in adults who have not been vaccinated against measles or have been vaccinated but have not received enough doses. The disease often occurs in winter and spring, when the weather is humid for a long time.

Measles is highly contagious, especially in crowded places such as schools. It is spread through respiratory droplets from an infected person or through direct contact or contaminated hands with respiratory secretions containing the disease. Children who have not been vaccinated against measles and people who are not immune to the measles virus can get measles.