Risk of reinfection with hand, foot and mouth disease in children

Hand, foot and mouth disease tends to increase

According to the latest statistics from the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control, in week 16 (April 14 - April 20), Ho Chi Minh City recorded 544 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, an increase of 35.5% compared to the average of the previous 4 weeks. The total number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases accumulated from the beginning of 2025 to week 16 is 3,721 cases. Districts with cases over 100,000 people are Binh Tan district, District 8, Nha Be district.

Recorded at Children's Hospital 2, the number of pediatric patients coming to the hospital for examination and treatment of hand, foot and mouth disease tends to increase. At Thu Duc City Hospital, in just the first 3 months of 2025, the unit recorded 132 examinations and 7 hospitalizations for hand, foot and mouth disease. This shows that the disease's progression is still worrying.

Doctor Tran Ngoc Luu - Department of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital 2 - said that hand, foot and mouth disease is an infectious disease transmitted from person to person by a group of intestinal microorganisms, which can create an epidemic. The disease mainly comes through the digestive tract from saliva, fluid from blisters and feces of infected children. Hand, foot and mouth disease can occur all year round, but tends to increase in March - May and September - December every year. The disease is common in children under 5 years old.

Signs that children are susceptible to the disease include fever (mild to high), mouth ulcers, pink rashes with blisters in common places such as the palms, soles of feet, knees, elbows, buttocks. hand, foot and mouth disease can lead to very dangerous complications, causing rapid death if not treated promptly. The disease can cause serious damage to the brain such as encephalitis, brainitis, meningitis, meningitis or other complications of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Dr. Luu emphasized that even though they have had the disease, children are still at risk of reinfection if they are exposed to the source of infection. Because children's immunity to this disease is not sustainable.

Because the disease vaccine has not yet been vaccinated in Vietnam, parents can prevent children by limiting contact with sick people. If children have the disease, they should be dismissed from school to avoid spreading it to their classmates. Always keep the living environment hygienic, disinfect contact surfaces and children's toys. Wash your hands regularly, remind your child to wash their hands with soap before eating, after going to the toilet. Adults should wash their hands with soap after changing clothes, diapers, taking care of children, as well as treating stools and secretions.

Do not arbitrarily treat at home with folk remedies

According to Dr. Pham Hoang Anh Khoa - Department of Pediatrics, Thu Duc City Hospital, close coordination between family and school is an important factor in controlling the spread of the disease in the community. When detecting children with the disease, parents need to immediately notify the school for appropriate precautions.

When detecting symptoms in children, parents need to take their children to a medical facility immediately for examination and treatment. Absolutely do not arbitrarily treat at home with folk remedies. Children need to be off school and quarantined for 7-10 days to avoid spreading.

Regarding nutrition, children need to be guaranteed adequate groups of nutrients, especially protein from fish, eggs, milk and vitamins from red-yellow vegetables, dark green vegetables. Divide your meals, choose soft, swallowing foods and supplement enough water and electrolytes. Avoid hot, salty or hard foods.

After recovering from hand, foot and mouth disease, children need special care for at least 2 weeks. You need to supplement more nutrients, especially vitamins A, C and zinc to increase resistance.