Vietnam recorded a total of 86,078 hand, foot and mouth disease patients in the first nine months of this year, up 75 percent on-year.
As of September, 21 people had died of hand, foot and mouth disease, up 18 percent compared to the same period last year.
According to the Ministry of Health, most hand, foot and mouth disease patients in Vietnam are affected by Enterovirus 71 (EV71) and Coxsackie A16, with children under three the hardest hit.
Over the past week, the country saw 5,250 hand, foot and mouth disease patients with a surge in Hanoi.
The Hanoi Centre for Disease Control reported that Hanoi had witnessed 1,789 hand, foot and mouth disease cases this year, up 1.2 fold on-year. However, no deaths have been recorded.
The return of students after the summer holiday along with weather changes have been partially blamed for the recent hand, foot and mouth disease outbreak. The outbreak seems set to continue increasing in the coming time.
Doctor Do Thi Thuy Nga from the Central Hospital of Paediatrics said that there were two common complications associated with hand, foot and mouth disease related to neurological and respiratory problems. This year, the hospital has seen a considerable rise in cases affected by neurological complications, particularly encephalitis.
Children taken to the hospital remain conscious but display symptoms such as sudden jerks along with trembling and unsteady walking.
To date, no vaccine for hand, foot and mouth disease has been used. Currently, patients are mainly monitored at home, using medicine to reduce fever and ease pain as well as maintain hydration in line with medical instructions.
Parents need to closely monitor their children’s health and ensure they are sent to hospital in good time if suffering from a suspected infection.
Source: dtinews.vn, TP