Rate of gastric disease in Vietnamese children growing

The rate of children suffering from gastric disease is growing due to schooling pressure and inappropriate food, health experts have said.
Rate of gastric disease in Vietnamese children growing ảnh 1A doctor from the National Paediatrics Hospital examines a child with symptoms of gastric diseases. (Source: tuoitre.vn)

Hanoi (VNA)
- The rate of childrensuffering from gastric disease is growing due to schooling pressure andinappropriate food, health experts have said.

Doctor Nguyen Thi Ut from theDigestive Disease Department at the National Paediatrics Hospital, said HPbacteria is one of the main causes of gastric disease in children.
Ha, an eight-year-old child from Hanoi’s Soc Son District, kept complaining of stomach aches and was gainingweight. When the pains became more serious and were accompanied by vomitting,her parents took her to the hospital.

She was diagnosed with inflammationof the stomach’s mucous membrane caused by the Helicobacter pylori (HP)bacteria.

Doctors advise children not to sharetheir bowl and spoon with gastric disease patients as they could catch HPbacteria.

Nhi, a six-year-old girl of thecapital’s Dong Da District, also suffered from stomach aches. Her parents said that she hadregular meals, eating one bowl of rice each day, and several snacks such asmilk, yoghurt and fruit. But she watched TV or played with a smart phone whileeating, otherwise she would refuse to eat.

To prevent the diseases, parentsshould not let their children watch computer, TV, smart phone, or sing anddance while eating, said Associate Professor Nguyen Tien Dung of thePaediatrics Department at Bach Mai Hospital.

He said the rate of childrensuffering from gastric disease is growing. Recently, a ten-year-old patient washospitalised for emergency care with an inflammation leading to digestivebleeding.

Statistics of the NationalPaediatrics Hospital show that as many as 76 percent of children between theage of four and nine complaining of stomach aches require edoscopic digestivediagnosis.

In addition, many families let theirchildren watch TV, or play with Ipads and smart phones while eating, affectingdigestion. Some fast food such as sausages also affect children’s digestivesystem, he said.

Dung warned that if gastric diseasein children was not treated in time and properly, they could lead to dangerousproblems such as digestive bleeding and even stomach cancer.

The expert also said that childrenbetween the age of 10 and 16 suffer from gastric disease more than youngerchildren because they have a lot of schooling pressure. He advised parentsnot to pressure their children and make them worry that they are not as good astheir friends.

Pressure greatly affects children’spsychology and also leads to gastric disease, according to Dung. – VNA

VNA

See more

Elderly people do morning exercises in the Hoan Kiem Lake area in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

Strategic roadmap for healthier future

As Vietnam’s population ages rapidly, Dr Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Vietnam, identified two strategic priorities: strengthening primary healthcare and developing a formal long-term care system. These measures are essential not only for healthy ageing, but also as long-term investments with wide-ranging socio-economic returns.

Professor Dr Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health. (File photo: VNA)

More than 300 medical staff assigned to serve 14th National Party Congress

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan called on experts and healthcare workers to uphold a strong sense of responsibility, professionalism and expertise to ensure that medical services for the 14th National Party Congress are delivered safely, effectively and with the highest level of care.

Health check-up offered to citizens in Gia Lai province. (Photo: VNA)

Health ministry maps out three phases for hospital fee exemption

Health insurance participants from near-poor households and those aged 75 and above who are receiving social pension allowances will be entitled to 100% coverage of medical examination and treatment costs within the scope of health insurance benefits.

A patient pays hospital fees using cashless transactions (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Hanoi aims for modern healthcare system

Hanoi's health sector will continue to expand the comprehensive use of digital technology in professional practices to improve management efficiency and service quality, aiming to develop a modern, transparent, and people-centred healthcare system.

Doctors from the Vietnam Young Physicians Association provide free medical examinations and treatment for residents of the capital. (Photo: VNA)

3.37 billion USD earmarked for public health care, population quality improvement

The programme’s overarching goal is to ensure that all people receive primary healthcare management and early, preventive care delivered close to home, thereby reducing disease burden; to increase the total fertility rate and strive for a balanced sex ratio at birth; to adapt to population ageing while improving population quality; to improve care for vulnerable groups; and to contribute to improvements in physical and mental health, stature, life expectancy and overall quality of life, towards building a healthier Vietnam.

A representative of the Health Strategy and Policy Institute shares the results of a study titled “Assessment of Vietnam’s Readiness for Self-Care and Its Influence Factors”. (Photo courtesy of the organiser)

Vietnam ranks 4th in health self-care readiness

Self-care is an essential component of primary healthcare, with WHO defining it as the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote and maintain health, prevent disease, and cope with illness with or without the support of healthcare professionals.

A proton machine in a hospital in Singapore. Proton beam therapy provides more options for cancer patients. (Photo courtesy of IHH Healthcare Singapore)

Proton therapy, an alternative method for cancer patients

In recent years, Vietnam's Ministry of Health has held numerous meetings with relevant units to assess the progress in developing proton therapy centres in the country. The project for establishing proton therapy centres is set to commence preparations in 2025 and aims for completion between 2026 and 2030.

At the event (Photo: VNA)

First hospital in Mekong Delta earns US AACI accreditation

Nam Can Tho University Hospital on December 15 hosted a ceremony to announce its accreditation by the American Accreditation Commission International (AACI), a US-based body, becoming the first facility in the Mekong Delta and among a select few in Vietnam to earn the distinction.

A health worker administer IPV polio vaccine to a child in Dong Thap province. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam proactively takes polio prevention measures amid outbreak in Laos

The meeting took place following an assessment by the World Health Organisation (WHO) warning that Vietnam is facing a very high risk of polio import and re-emergence. The risk arises after neighbouring Laos officially declared a polio outbreak on October 7, following the detection of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1).

National health target programme prioritises the most vulnerable groups (Photo: VietnamPlus)

National target programme on health prioritises most vulnerable groups

The National Assembly on December 11 adopted a resolution on the National Target Programme on Healthcare, Population, and Development for the 2026–2035 period, marking a significant step in Vietnam’s long-term commitment to improving public health and population quality.