Hand, foot and mouth disease is in season, with many cases of serious complications.

On May 28, Dr. Du Tuan Quy, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Neurology, Children's Hospital 1 (HCMC) warned that hand, foot and mouth disease is at its peak in the first wave of the year and there have been many cases of serious complications.

Specifically, Children's Hospital 1 is currently receiving 14 children, but up to 1/3 of them are in serious condition, with 2 grade 3 cases and 1 grade 2b case.

Doctor of Infectious Diseases - Neurology, Children's Hospital 1 takes care of children with hand, foot and mouth disease

"Currently, lower-level units have been trained to treat hand, foot and mouth disease, so most children are treated as outpatients or in the provinces, so fewer children are hospitalized. However, the number of severe hospitalizations is high," said Dr. Du Tuan Quy.

Doctor Du Tuan Quy explained that currently, attention to hand, foot and mouth disease such as hand washing and disease prevention hygiene has decreased.

In addition, children with hand, foot and mouth disease are alert, even if they get worse, they are still alert, so the family is subjective and does not monitor closely, by the time they are hospitalized, the child has already gotten worse. Once the golden period for treatment has passed, the disease progresses very quickly.

Doctor Du Tuan Quy said: The obvious sign of hand, foot and mouth disease is a rash, but if the child has a rash and fever, you should take them to the doctor and not be subjective if they are still conscious.

Easily recognizable signs of hand, foot and mouth disease

"Two typical signs of children with severe hand, foot and mouth disease are that the child is awake but has a fever that does not respond to fever reduction; the child is asleep but is startled and panicked. In addition, if the child feels nauseous or vomits, it is an abnormal sign that the condition is getting worse. Or if the child has weak arms and legs, it is a complication and needs to be taken to the hospital immediately. If it is delayed, the virus will enter the brain, causing encephalitis, which is very difficult to treat and causes complications," said Dr. Du Tuan Quy.

With a grade 2-3 complication, the treatment team must spend about a week to bring the child out of the severe stage and must take very good care. During the first 2 days, when the child becomes seriously ill, they must be monitored every 1 hour, then extended to every 3 hours, 6 hours... If treated correctly, the child will not have any sequelae. However, if not treated properly, complications will develop such as encephalitis, myocarditis, acute pulmonary edema causing multiple organ failure and death.

According to Dr. Du Tuan Quy, hand, foot and mouth disease occurs all year round, but there are two peak periods from April to June and September to December every year. During this season, if a child has a fever and drools, parents often think that the child is teething, but be careful because the child has a sore throat due to hand, foot and mouth disease. The doctor also recommends hand washing and hygiene to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease in every family, school, playground... to prevent the spread of this disease.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/benh-tay-chan-mieng-vao-mua-co-nhieu-ca-bien-chung-nang-185230529105744848.htm