Many serious cases require ventilators
On February 20, Hue Central Hospital informed that since the beginning of the year, the hospital has recorded 131 cases positive for measles, including 93 children and 38 adults (compared to 46 cases in 2024).
The Department of Pediatrics - Geography - Urology - Tropical Diseases, Pediatric Center is one of the units treating many cases of measles and rash fever, with the number of pediatric patients ranging from 20 - 30 cases per day.
Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Huu Chau Duc - Deputy Head of the Department of Pediatrics - Geography - Urinary tract - Tropical Diseases - said that measles is an infectious disease caused by the measles virus, commonly found in children under 3 years old who have not been vaccinated or have not received enough doses.
He added that through the screening process, severe cases will be admitted to the hospital for treatment. For cases of measles without complications, patients can be treated at home in combination with preventive measures. However, if children show signs of continuous high fever, vomiting a lot, shortness of breath or signs of respiratory failure, they need to be hospitalized for timely monitoring and treatment.
Notably, many children with underlying diseases have encountered serious complications from measles and have to use ventilators.
MSc. Dr. Nguyen Dac Luong - Deputy Head of the Department of Intensive Care - Pediatric Emergency, Children's Center - said that since the beginning of the year, the department has received 5 cases of severe measles, including 3 cases requiring ventilators.
Among them, a child from Ha Tinh was transferred with complications of pneumonia, his health is improving well. The remaining two cases are children with underlying cancer and autoimmune encephalitis, both of whom are being treated and closely monitored.
Increasing vaccination
MSc. Dr. Pham Huu Tri - Deputy Director in charge of the Children's Center - warned that measles is a highly contagious disease through the respiratory tract and is at risk of serious complications. Severe cases need to be quarantined and closely monitored.
He also said that during this epidemic, many children with the disease are of vaccination age but have not been vaccinated again. Therefore, he recommends that families should get their children vaccinated against measles again to increase immune efficiency. In particular, measles is very dangerous for children with underlying diseases due to the high risk of complications, which can even cause death.
The health sector recommends that, to effectively prevent measles, people should proactively take children from 9 months to 2 years old who have not been vaccinated or have not had enough 2 doses of measles vaccine to be fully vaccinated and on schedule. At the same time, it is necessary to limit children's contact with people suspected of having measles and keep children clean every day.
For schools - where there are many children - it is necessary to maintain environmental hygiene and keep the classroom space airy. Items such as toys and learning tools need to be disinfected regularly. When detecting signs of fever, cough, runny nose, or rash in children, they should be quarantined early and taken to a medical facility for timely examination and treatment.
