HCM City records significant increase in hand-foot-mouth cases
VOV.VN - Ho Chi Minh City recorded 581 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in just one week from May 20 to May 26, marking an increase of 26% compared to the average being recorded four weeks ago.
According to details given by the Ho Chi Minh City Centre for Disease Control (HCDC), so far the total number of cases of HFMD in the southern metropolis have reached 5,086.
Districts with a high number of cases per 100,000 people include Nha Be, Binh Chanh, and District 8.
According to details given by health experts, based on the latest laboratory results, a significant proportion of samples in Ho Chi Minh City have tested positive for Enterovirus 71 (EV-71), which causes HFMD. EV-71 and is believed to generally cause severe complications and deaths among infected patients.
HFMD is most common among young children and is typically transmitted through the gastrointestinal tract, meaning that it is important for children and their caregivers to practice good personal hygiene.
Symptoms of the disease include a mild or moderate fever, fatigue, a sore throat, a skin rash developing on palms, feet, knees, and buttocks, as well as sores that may occur on the lining of cheeks, gums, and the tongue.
Patients should be hospitalised in the event that they suffer from a high fever which cannot be reduced by paracetamol, vomiting, convulsions, and an increased heart rate.
Furthermore, any infected children should not go to school for at least 10 days in an attempt to avoid further spreading the disease to others.
