Dengue fever in Ho Chi Minh City is increasing with more than 500 cases/week, many children are in critical condition.

The number of dengue fever cases in Ho Chi Minh City has increased dramatically, especially severe shock cases in children, raising warnings about a complicated epidemic season.

People get vaccinated against dengue fever at VNVC Phu Nhuan - Photo: DUYEN PHAN

According to the latest data from the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control provided on June 25, from June 16 to 22 (week 25), Ho Chi Minh City recorded 507 cases of dengue fever, an increase of 50.9% compared to the average of the previous 4 weeks.

The total number of dengue fever cases accumulated from the beginning of 2025 to week 25 is 9,571 cases. Districts with high number of cases per 100,000 people include Can Gio, Cu Chi and Nha Be districts.

Although it is only the beginning of the epidemic season, the dengue fever situation has become unusually complicated. The Ho Chi Minh City health sector has continuously issued warnings about the alarming increase of the disease, especially in children with many cases of severe dengue shock. The epidemic is forecast to continue to be complicated in the coming time when the South enters the rainy season.

At Children's Hospital 1, the intensive care unit is treating many children in severe, life-threatening dengue shock syndrome. Statistics show that the hospital recorded 108 cases of dengue shock syndrome in the first 6 months of 2025, an increase of 94.74% compared to 2024.

According to information from Children's Hospital 2, the unit recently saved the life of a 4-year-old patient with severe dengue fever thanks to intensive resuscitation.

That was baby PKA, temporarily residing in Binh Duong , with dengue fever. On the third day, the patient still had a high fever, vomited several times a day and had a stomachache, so he was taken to Children's Hospital 2. The patient was admitted to the hospital in severe shock 12 hours later, despite being given fluid replacement but was not responding well.

When transferred to the infectious resuscitation department (Children's Hospital 2), the patient was in critical condition: respiratory failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, prolonged circulatory collapse, heart and liver damage, liver enzymes increased 30 times, heart enzymes increased 200 times, severe blood clotting disorder and progressive kidney failure.

The doctor had to urgently put the baby on a ventilator, puncture the abdomen to drain, give anti-shock fluids, give blood transfusions, cardiac drugs, vasopressors, and perform dialysis immediately afterwards.

After 3 weeks of intensive care, a miracle happened, the condition of the organs improved, the patient was taken off vasopressors, the ventilator and dialysis. Currently, the patient has fully recovered without any sequelae.

Dengue fever increases, hand, foot and mouth disease and measles decrease

In week 25, Ho Chi Minh City also recorded 571 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, down 34.8% 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 25 is 10,811 cases. Districts with high number of cases per 100,000 people include Binh Tan district, Nha Be district and District 7.

Also in week 25, Ho Chi Minh City recorded 45 measles cases with addresses in the city, down 17.8% compared to the average of the previous 4 weeks. The total number of measles cases accumulated from the beginning of the epidemic to week 25 is 9,647 cases. Districts with high number of cases up to week 25 include Cu Chi district, Binh Tan district and Thu Duc city.

Although it is only the beginning of the epidemic season, the dengue fever situation has become unusually complicated. The Ho Chi Minh City health sector has continuously issued warnings about the alarming increase of the disease, especially in children with many cases of severe dengue shock. The epidemic is forecast to continue to be complicated in the coming time when the South enters the rainy season.

THUY DUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/sot-xuat-huet-tai-tp-hcm-tang-cao-voi-hon-500-ca-tuan-nhieu-tre-em-nguy-kich-20250625132742777.htm