Severe measles cases surge at the National Children’s Hospital, particularly in the first three months of 2025, doubling the figures from all of 2024. An average of 30-40 severely ill measles patients from northern provinces are transferred daily for treatment, placing immense pressure on medical staff.
Critical Situation at the Tertiary Care Level
The article details the critical situation faced by hospitals, especially the National Children’s Hospital, due to the dramatic increase in severe measles cases.
Admitted patients often arrive in critical condition, requiring mechanical ventilation and intensive care. The medical staff is working tirelessly. Many children face severe complications such as septic shock, severe pneumonia, respiratory failure, and even require blood dialysis.
Causes and Scope of the Outbreak
According to Dr. Cao Viet Tung, Deputy Director of the National Children’s Hospital, measles cases have skyrocketed since late 2024. Over 1,700 measles cases have been recorded in the first three months of 2025, compared to 9 cases in June 2024 and over 800 cases in October-December 2024.
Hospital Response to the Outbreak
The National Children’s Hospital has prepared various strategies to address the outbreak. The Tropical Diseases Center has mobilized nearly 200 beds for measles patients, with plans to expand further if the situation worsens.
Challenges and Difficulties
Treating severe measles patients presents significant challenges for medical staff, demanding close collaboration between doctors, nurses, and patient families. Care strategies include respiratory support, infection management, nutrition, skin and eye care, and monitoring for neurological complications.
Underlying Factors
Statistics show a significant number of hospitalized measles patients are under 6 months or over 9 months old, and have not received or are not fully vaccinated against measles. This highlights the importance of complete vaccination to prevent the disease.
Conclusion
The measles outbreak is putting severe strain on the healthcare system. Strengthening preventative measures, particularly complete vaccination, alongside close collaboration between healthcare facilities and families, is crucial to control the outbreak.
References
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