Da Nang is implementing preventive measures to control the spread of hand-foot-mouth (HFM) diseases as the number of HFM infections has increased steadily in the region.

HFM patients are treated at the Tropical Medicine Department of the Da Nang Hospital for Woman and Children. (Photo: vov.vn)

The Tropical Medicine Department of the Da Nang Hospital for Woman and Children recently received between 70-80 HFM cases for treatment each day.

However, Dr Nguyen Hai Thinh, Deputy Head of the Tropical Medicine Department, said there have been no serious cases with fatal complications.

“Currently, the number of hospital beds in the department still ensures one child per bed," he said.

Mr Nguyen Tam Lam, Head of the Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Centre under the city’s Department of Health, said anti-epidemic teams were set up with qualified human resources, equipment and chemicals.

“District-level health centres are asked to coordinate with the education and training department, parents and schools to strictly examine food safety,” he said.

Since the beginning of this year, the city recorded 1,300 cases of HFM disease, an increase of 200 cases over the same period last year.

Nguyen Thi Thu Mo, mother of an 8-year-old patient who was treated as outpatient in the Tropical Medicine Ward, said her daughter was hospitalised five days ago with fever and rashes.

“I kept her at home for two days but the fever didn’t stop, so we took her to hospital,” Mo said. “Now the rash is okay, but she still has a fever”.

Dr Thinh said children infected with HFM disease often experience fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, sore throat, cough, abdominal pain, and a rash on the skin.

“So when parents detect these signs, they need to take the children to medical facilities immediately,” Thinh said.

Each year in Da Nang, there are two peaks of HFM disease: from March to May and from September to October.

The reoccurrence of virus Enterovirus 71 (EV71), a common cause of life-threatening illnesses for HFM patients, has made the disease dangerous and could easily spread into an outbreak.

(Source: VNA/ DA NANG Today)