At the Department of Tropical Diseases, Hanoi Children's Hospital, in recent weeks, the number of children with COVID-19 coming for examination and hospitalization has tended to increase slightly compared to the previous period. Notably, some families still mistake the initial symptoms of the disease for flu, sore throat or common viral infection.
Ms. Nguyen Thi (Hanoi) took her son to the hospital for examination after 4 days of continuous high fever, poor appetite and crying. Previously, the family thought that her son only had a sore throat or a common viral infection.
According to MSc.BS Le Thi Van, Department of Tropical Diseases, Hanoi Children's Hospital, the number of children with COVID-19 coming for examination and hospitalization recently has slightly increased. Although the number of cases tends to increase, most children hospitalized have mild symptoms. The hospital has not recorded an unusual increase in severe cases such as pneumonia or respiratory failure. Not only young children, COVID-19 continues to appear in the elderly, especially those with underlying diseases.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Yen (Bach Mai ward, Hanoi), with a history of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease for many years, recently experienced cough, runny nose and fatigue. Initially, she thought these were common respiratory symptoms.
After testing COVID-19, I knew I had the disease," Ms. Yen said.
According to BSCKII Nguyen Thi Lan Huong - Deputy Director of Thanh Nhan Hospital, the Department of Infectious Diseases is currently treating about 15 COVID-19 patients, mainly elderly people and people with underlying diseases. COVID-19 symptoms in patients today are often similar to flu, while the severity due to the virus is not common. For the elderly and people with underlying diseases, the condition can become more serious due to existing diseases being affected.
Doctors recommend that when flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue appear, people, especially the elderly and people with underlying diseases, should go to medical facilities for examination and testing when necessary.
According to the Hanoi City Center for Disease Control (CDC Hanoi), in the week from July 17 to July 24, the whole city recorded 185 cases of COVID-19 in 76 wards and communes. Accumulated from the beginning of 2026 to now, Hanoi has recorded 588 cases scattered in 109 wards and communes. To proactively prevent and control epidemics, the CDC Hanoi proposes that ward and commune Health Stations strengthen monitoring and early detection of cases at decentralized medical examination and treatment facilities, on the infectious disease management and surveillance system and in the community. At the same time, promote communication activities, provide complete and timely information about the epidemic situation and measures to prevent and control summer infectious diseases such as dengue fever, hand, foot and mouth disease, measles, COVID-19, diseases caused by Adenovirus and other respiratory infections. In addition, propagate and mobilize people to proactively get fully and on schedule vaccinated against all types of vaccines to improve immunity and prevent diseases.
