Children's Hospital 1 in HCM City has seen a steady flow of children seeking treatment for the disease over the past two weeks, according to Du Tuan Quy, head of its Infectious Diseases and Neurology Department.
The department is treating about 50 inpatients a day and seeing around 40 children as outpatients.
While overall admissions have not surged compared with previous years, doctors have recorded a relatively high number of severe cases.
Of the 50 children currently being treated in the department, 16 have severe disease classified as grade 2B or higher, including six who are on ventilators.
Quy said hand, foot and mouth disease could worsen rapidly and urged parents to seek medical attention promptly if their children showed signs of deterioration.
He cited a recent case involving a child from Dong Thap Province whose family decided to travel directly to HCM City after discovering symptoms of the disease. The child's condition deteriorated during the journey and ventilator support was required upon arrival at Children's Hospital 1.
Quy advised families to first take sick children to the nearest medical facility, where doctors can assess the severity of the illness and determine whether referral to a higher-level hospital is necessary.
Many children with mild hand, foot and mouth disease can recover at home with outpatient follow-up, but parents should watch closely for warning signs.
Besides persistent high fever and frequent startling, severe cases this season have included unusually pale skin, lips, hands or feet. Increased drowsiness is another warning sign requiring immediate medical attention, Quy said.
A vaccine against hand, foot and mouth disease is expected to become available in Vietnam by the end of 2026, according to Quy. The vaccine has undergone clinical trials in Vietnam and is already in use in several countries.