The number of cases of hand, foot and mouth disease increases - prevention recommendations of the Ministry of Health

In order to minimize the number of deaths from hand, foot and mouth disease, the Ministry of Health recommends that people and communities need to take measures to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease in the most effective way.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious disease that is transmitted directly from person to person through the mouth, saliva and secretions from the nose, feces of infected children. People with hand, foot and mouth disease have the ability to shed the disease-causing virus during the first week, also known as the incubation period. Common pathogens are Coxsackie virus A16 and Enterovirus 71 (EV71).
Hand, foot and mouth disease, if there is no timely intervention and treatment, the disease will develop quickly and potentially break out into a large epidemic. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize signs of infection in order to take measures to treat and isolate infected children from uninfected children. Depending on the specific stage of hand, foot and mouth disease, there will be different symptoms as follows:
Incubation period: It is the time when the disease-causing virus invades the body and destroys the immune system. 3 - 6 days long. Stage of onset: Children begin to have signs of sore throat, low fever or high fever (37.5 - 39 degrees Celsius), burning pain in teeth and mouth, salivation, loss of appetite,... Full stage : After the onset of the disease from 1-2 days, children begin to show typical symptoms of the disease such as: A rash with blisters on the palms, feet, buttocks, knees, ... they may be protruding or hidden under the skin; mouth sores that make the child cry; There may be signs of confusion, convulsions, and delirium throughout the body. So after the full-blown stage, when will hand foot and mouth disease go away? Accordingly, if the child has a mild illness, about 7-10 days when the child is properly cared for, the baby's health will be fully recovered. At the same time, after recovering from the disease, the child's body will have an immune system against that virus strain. However, if a child has hand, foot and mouth disease many times after that, it may be caused by a different virus strain than the previous one.

2.1. Use the right medicine Antipyretic: When the child has a high fever of 380C or more, it is necessary to give the child an antipyretic with paracetamol at a dose of 10-15mg/kg, after 4-6 hours it can be used again if the child still has a high fever. An rectal suppository can be used if the child cannot swallow. Rehydration and electrolytes: Give children by drinking oresol or hydrite solution... Antiseptic: When children have fever and mouth ulcers, vitamin C and zinc should be added, using glycerin borate solution to wipe the mouth before and after meals to antiseptic and pain reliever. Certain other medications: There are a number of other medications that are used depending on the specific condition of the condition. Because many mothers wonder if children with hand, foot and mouth disease need to take antibiotics? However, whether children with hand, foot and mouth disease need to take antibiotics or not depends on the complications of the disease, if the child has complications of encephalitis, paralysis, mental disorders, convulsions, it is imperative to take anti-inflammatory drugs. Brain edema, anticonvulsants and antibiotics to prevent superinfection... But if the child has respiratory failure, cardiovascular collapse, they need special treatment such as oxygen breathing, mechanical ventilation, intravenous fluids, antibiotics to prevent superinfection...

2.2. Nutrition and hygiene for children with hand foot and mouth disease Diet:
Ensure adequate nutrition for children. If the baby is still breastfed, increase breastfeeding to several times a day. For older children, they should eat thin, cold, easy to digest foods such as diluted porridge, milk, nut milk, bean tea, fruits rich in vitamins and minerals Daily hygiene:
Oral hygiene for children with hand, foot and mouth with an antiseptic solution; Open wounds left by water burns should use antiseptic solutions to avoid superinfection. Have the child gargle with physiological saline if he can. Clothes, diapers or items of sick children need to be soaked in an antiseptic solution or can be boiled in boiling water Wash and gently clean the baby with hand, foot and mouth disease every day with clean water to avoid infection. Closely monitor the baby's condition so that when there are abnormal signs, they can react promptly.

Currently, there is no specific treatment drug, only supportive treatment. Therefore, in order to proactively prevent hand, foot and mouth disease, the Ministry of Health recommends that people and communities take the following measures:
Ensure cooked food and drink; Eating and drinking utensils must be washed before use. In daily activities, it is necessary to use clean water to ensure hygiene. Wash hands often with soap under running water several times a day, including people. adults and children, especially before preparing food, before eating and feeding children, before holding babies, after using the toilet, after changing diapers and cleaning children. Do not give food to children and especially do not let children eat, suck, suck on toys; Separately use children's personal items such as napkins, handkerchiefs, eating utensils... Clean surfaces, daily contact tools of children such as toys, learning tools... with guaranteed cleaning solution. Do not allow children to come into contact with sick or suspected sick children. Using hygienic latrines, feces and waste products of sick children should be collected and dumped into hygienic latrines. When a child shows signs of suspected illness, parents need to take the child to a doctor or notify the nearest medical facility. In addition, when the child is infected, the parents do not allow the child to poke the blisters on the body; have a clean living environment, avoid exposing children to dirty air and water; Do not arbitrarily use medicine to treat children without a prescription from a doctor. In order to limit the number of deaths from hand, foot and mouth disease, medical facilities need to strengthen monitoring of inpatients to detect and promptly treat worsening cases.

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