Doctors warn that unvaccinated children are at risk of severe measles

On September 13, specialist doctor Do Chau Viet, Head of the Intensive Care Unit for Infection and Covid-19, Children's Hospital 2, said that recently, the department has received and treated a number of severe measles cases. Most of the cases had underlying diseases and the children had not been vaccinated or had not been fully vaccinated. A survey of some reasons for not being vaccinated showed that the most prominent were that the children were "not healthy enough" and their relatives were worried about the "consequences" of the vaccine.

Typically, patient D.TT (9 years old) was brought to Children's Hospital 2 in a state of high fever, lethargy and difficulty breathing, with a rash all over his body. The patient weighed only 12 kg (equivalent to a 2-year-old child), had many congenital defects such as corneal atrophy, only 4 fingers in all four limbs, and no anus that had been operated on when he was young. The child was slow to develop, unable to communicate, and malnourished. Because the child had many congenital defects and was often sick, he had not been vaccinated with any vaccines, including measles.

The baby had a high fever for 3 consecutive days, vomiting, diarrhea, increasing cough, a rash all over the body and started having difficulty breathing. The baby was put on a ventilator, given antibodies, injected with antibiotics, given high doses of vitamin A, improved nutrition and supportive care. After 7 days of treatment, the baby's condition improved and he could breathe on his own but still needed further resuscitation.

Doctor Do Chau Viet examines pediatric patients

Previously, at the Ministry of Health 's inspection of the measles prevention and control situation at Children's Hospital 1 at the end of August, it was also noted that most of the severe cases had not received 2 doses of measles vaccine. Specifically, in 42 severe measles cases treated at Children's Hospital 1, these cases had not received 2 doses of measles vaccine.

Vaccination helps create protective antibodies when encountering the measles virus.

According to Vietnamese doctors, there is a vaccine to prevent measles. After vaccination, children will create antibodies to protect themselves when exposed to the measles virus. Therefore, even if they get sick, they will "easily" overcome it.

Measles vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine, so it will not be given to children with severe immunodeficiency, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, tuberculosis treatment, children taking long-term high doses of immunosuppressive drugs (corticoids, etc.), allergies or severe reactions to ingredients in measles vaccine, etc. In addition to the above subjects, all children of the right age can still be vaccinated, especially necessary for children with underlying diseases, multiple malformations, etc.

"If parents still have concerns about diseases that require limiting measles vaccination, they should take their children to medical facilities for more detailed advice to avoid children getting serious measles, while it can be prevented," Dr. Viet recommends.

Signs of measles

Master - Doctor Nguyen Dinh Qui (Deputy Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases - Children's Hospital 2) said that parents should note that when children have the following symptoms, they should suspect measles:

• The child has a fever for 2-3 days, with a rash spreading from behind the ears down the face to the neck, chest, abdomen and whole body.
• Accompanied by one of three symptoms: cough, runny nose, red eyes.

Vaccination is an active measure to prevent measles. Parents need to review their children's vaccination schedule. Children need to get the first dose of measles vaccine at 9 months of age and the measles-rubella vaccine at 18 months of age.

In addition, parents should have their children wear masks when going to crowded areas; parents need to clean their hands before and after taking care of children with measles to avoid spreading it to the community.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bac-si-canh-bao-tre-chua-tiem-ngua-vac-xin-mac-soi-nang-185240912152739976.htm