A doctor has advised that parents should intensively practice precautionary measures against hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) as Vietnam has seen a rising number of HFMD cases, especially in the Mekong Delta region, with three child deaths reported so far.

The number of HFMD cases in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam started increasing sharply from April.

Many of them were hospitalized with severe illness, prompting hospitals to hold medical consultations with higher-level units or requiring a hospital transfer to a higher level of care.

Some provinces in the region also reported cases of Enterovirus (EV71) that can cause serious HFMD.

According to statistics from the Can Tho City Children’s Hospital, more than 2,260 HFMD infections have been reported so far this year. Last month witnessed a 140-percent month-on-month increase to 409 cases.

The hospital also recorded one child death linked to this viral illness during the given period, adding that it had transferred three HFMD patients to an upper-level hospital for further treatment.

In other provinces such as An Giang and Dong Thap, HFMD infections were also on the rise, at 386 and 743 cases this year, respectively.

HFMD is a common infectious disease that most often affects children, according to the World Health Organization.

Truong Cam Trinh, head of the Can Tho City Children’s Hospital’s medical examination department, said the most identifiable symptom of the ailment is a rash with blisters on hands, feet, knees, and sometimes buttocks.

The most common symptoms found in children with HFMD are mouth ulcers that cause pain when eating or drinking.

Therefore, children infected with HFMD usually refuse to eat or drink and often drool excessively.

Some HFMD child patients may have a mild fever. Those suffering from a high fever, along with nocturnal panic attacks, limb tremors, and crying should be hospitalized immediately.

Also, both adults and children could be infected with HFMD multiple times, as antibodies produced after an HFMD infection wane over time, Trinh said.

The doctor advised parents to adopt preventive measures by isolating sick people from healthy ones at home, while regularly disinfecting their kids’ toys and daily items.

For HFMD cases under home treatment, parents were told to get their sick kids taken fever reducers every 4-6 hours as prescribed by doctors, but they must not use aspirin as it can cause serious complications.​

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