Warning of increased hospital admissions for hand, foot, and mouth disease in children
Currently, hand-foot-mouth disease is progressing complexly, with a strong increasing trend in the community. This is a dangerous infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted directly from person to person, occurring sporadically throughout the year, with a tendency to peak during the transitional months from March to May and from September to December each year. The disease can occur at any age but is most common in children under 5 years old, especially those under 3 years old.
Recently, Hai Phong International Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital has received many cases of children suffering from hand-foot-mouth disease, admitted with high fever, not improving after taking medication at home, and showing skin lesions or symptoms of poor appetite, diarrhea, etc. If not detected early and treated promptly, the disease can lead to dangerous complications. Therefore, it is extremely necessary for parents to recognize the symptoms of the disease early to take their children to medical facilities for timely treatment.
Symptoms of hand-foot-mouth disease in young children:
- Fever, loss of appetite, cough, abdominal pain, and sore throat are the most common symptoms in children with hand-foot-mouth disease. It may sometimes cause vomiting. These symptoms can last for 12 – 48 hours.
- After 1-2 days, red spots begin to appear, especially around the tongue, gums, and the inside of the cheeks. These lesions are very painful, making it difficult for the child to eat and swallow, causing discomfort and crying. Typically, these lesions will resolve within 5-7 days.
- Additionally, the child may develop a rash on the skin along with sores in the mouth. Do not burst these spots as it may cause the disease to spread. These symptoms can last up to 10 days.
- Viral meningitis (symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, back pain), patients need to be hospitalized for treatment.
- Other rare complications include paralysis, numbness, or encephalitis. For children with brain complications, symptoms may be subtle and include difficulty sleeping, excessive crying, frequent startling while awake or when falling asleep, agitation, incoherent speech, trembling limbs, seizures, high fever, and facial drooping. If these complications occur and are not detected, treated correctly and promptly, the child may die within hours.
- If not kept clean, patients may also suffer from secondary infections at the skin lesions.
- Wash hands with soap and clean water multiple times a day
- Practice good food hygiene: eat cooked food, drink boiled water; regularly clean eating utensils; do not feed children by mouth, do not let children eat with their hands, suck their fingers, or chew on toys; do not allow children to share towels, cups, bowls, plates, spoons, or unsterilized toys.
- Thoroughly clean toys and contact surfaces
- Isolate from sick individuals
- Use clean restrooms
Dangerous complications:
How to effectively prevent and treat?
When signs of illness are detected, parents should immediately take the children to a medical facility for timely examination and treatment. As a specialized Pediatric Hospital in Hai Phong, Hai Phong International Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital gathers a team of top doctors with extensive experience in continuously diagnosing and treating pediatric diseases, so parents can completely trust the health of their beloved children. If parents wish to bring their children for examination, please contact the Hotline: 0225 395 9999 for timely examination and treatment!
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