At the National Children's Hospital, from 2024 to the end of the first 3 months of 2025, a total of 3,799 measles tests were positive (tested using PCR and IGM methods). Of which, there are 2,690 cases that have to be hospitalized for treatment.
In particular, more than 55% of children with measles are not vaccinated against the disease or have not received enough doses. Clinically, there are many cases that only show fever, diarrhea, no rash, so early diagnosis for timely treatment and infection prevention is very important.
From January to March 26, the National Children's Hospital recorded 1,894 measles cases, nearly double the total number of cases in 2024 (796 positive cases).
Dr. Cao Viet Tung, Deputy Director of the National Children's Hospital, said: Faced with the rapid increase in measles cases, the National Children's Hospital has quickly reported and updated measles cases to the Ministry of Health and related medical facilities. At the same time, the hospital will develop a plan to respond to the increasing number of cases, issue a document to unify direction, management and implementation throughout the hospital.
The hospital has organized screening and promptly detected suspected cases or measles cases right at the initial reception area, then divided the flow and arranged examination and testing areas to determine the cause specifically for children suspected of/measles.
The National Children's Hospital has dedicated the Center for Tropical Diseases as a place for treatment and isolation of measles cases, to minimize cross-infection.
The hospital strictly complies with the standard preventive principles of the Ministry of Health, ensuring airy disease prevention and appropriate bed distance, according to regulations.
Patients are guaranteed a bed for each child, not having to be shared. Medical staff comply with wearing masks, hand sanitizers, and surface sanitizers in the infirmary.
Measles cases in hospitals are updated to the system; exposed subjects are also monitored and managed to prevent switching from exposure to measles.
Based on the synthesis of data on epidemiology, clinics and actual treatment results, the National Children's Hospital has proactively developed and updated treatment regimens according to the severity and mildity of the disease, helping to bring high efficiency and shorten treatment time, while detecting complications and signs of severity early, prompt medical intervention and treatment support (IVIG, blood filtration, ECMO, ventilator...).
The hospital guides the patient's family to monitor and treat at home in cases of mild disease; refer to lower-level treatment for cases of the patient with mild complications, stable underlying diseases or who have been treated stably for measles. The hospital also strengthens supervision, response and coordination, support between medical facilities at all levels; enhances communication, raises public awareness.
In addition, clinical units actively coordinate with the hospital's Infection Prevention and Control Department to review and prescribe measles vaccination for inpatients aged 6 months and over who are eligible for vaccination. The Clinic and Vaccination Consulting of the National Children's Hospital advises and injects a single measles vaccine or MMR vaccine for both children and adults.
