During the past two weeks, the Children’s Hospital No1, the Children’s Hospital No2 and the hospital for tropical diseases have received an increasing number of children infected with the disease.

Doctor Truong Huu Khanh, head of the infectious diseases department of Children’s Hospital No1, said that his department has received more than 20 child patients a day and five of them remain in a critical condition.

According to the Preventive Healthcare Centre in HCM City, five people have died from hand, foot and mouth disease since the beginning of this year.

Medical experts have recommended that children should be sent immediately to hospital if they show the symptoms which include small red spots or blisters in the mouth or on the hands, feet, knees and hips.