At the end of January, Ms. Nguyen Thi Dung (30 years old, from Quang Ninh) noticed her son Nguyen Dang Hai Nam (5 years old) exhibiting symptoms suggestive of Influenza A. The boy had high fevers of 38-39°C at night and experienced body aches.
Ms. Dung and her husband took turns monitoring their child while purchasing test kits from a pharmacy. After confirming that Nam was infected with Influenza A, she administered medication prescribed by the doctor.
Nam’s fever subsided but persisted into the next day, fluctuating between hot and cold spells. Ms. Dung stayed vigilant, constantly checking on him.
On January 23rd, around noon, when mother and son were resting on the sofa, Ms. Dung suddenly heard Nam stirring.
“I woke up to see my son having a seizure with a high fever of 41°C. I screamed and called out several times, but he didn’t respond,” Ms. Dung recounted.
In her panic, she inserted her right hand into her son’s mouth to prevent him from biting his tongue. The boy bit down hard, causing Ms. Dung intense pain. She endured the agony, carrying her son outside for help as no one else was home.
“In the video of me rushing out to seek help, I feel so sorry for my son. But in that moment, there was no other choice,” she said.
Many people assisted Ms. Dung by wiping Nam down with wet towels to lower his temperature. After initial care and seeing no further signs of rigidity, she called an ambulance to take her son to the emergency room.
Nam was admitted to the pediatric emergency ward, where many children were being treated for Influenza A. Doctors provided fluids and additional antipyretic medication. Ms. Dung also checked the wound on her right hand.
By 5 PM, Nam had regained consciousness, eating porridge, and conversing normally. Ms. Dung discharged him and continued care at home.
Mother Inserts Hand Into Son's Mouth During Seizure Due to Influenza A – 1Mom inserting her hand into her son’s mouth to stop him from biting his tongue (Screenshot from video).
After her son stabilized, Ms. Dung posted on social media to warn parents about monitoring their children’s health during the influenza A outbreak.
“Influenza A isn’t scary until it happens to you. It’s heartbreaking to see your child suffer through seizures. I was terrified and unsure of what to do,” she shared.
Nam is the second child of Ms. Dung. Before this incident, she had been complacent, thinking childhood illnesses were common. This experience left her deeply affected and fearful.
“Every night, hearing my son stir in his sleep makes me anxious. I wake up immediately to check on him,” she said.
Under her post, many mothers shared their experiences and advice, which motivated her and provided valuable insights for caring for her two children and family.
Dr. Dang Thi Thuy, Head of Pediatrics at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases, explained that Influenza A is an acute respiratory infection that commonly occurs during winter and spring, especially during seasonal changes.
Initial symptoms include high fever, 39-40°C, conjunctival injection, sore throat, redness, fatigue, poor appetite, and irritability. Severe cases may involve difficulty breathing, pneumonia, and bronchiolitis.
Parents should seek medical attention if their child exhibits high fever and respiratory symptoms. Most cases of influenza are treated on an outpatient basis, but those with complications like pneumonia or bronchiolitis may require hospitalization.
Doctors advise that Influenza A is highly contagious, affecting all age groups, particularly young children, the elderly, and pregnant women.
The most effective preventive measures include getting vaccinated, boosting children’s immune systems, maintaining personal hygiene, and regularly cleaning living and play spaces.
