What you should know about Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease



What is Hand , Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) ? This is an infectious disease caused by a virus . The most common virus is Coxsackie A16 , but other common enteroviruses such as other strains of Coxsackie A and enterovirus 71 can also cause HFMD .

Who are affected? HFMD can occur in people from various age groups , but children between the ages of 2 weeks to 5 years of age are particularly prone to this infection.

What are the signs and symptoms of HFMD?
	Fever lasting 2-3 days , followed by sore throat and runny nose. Vesicles appear in the mouth which burst , leaving 5-10 painful oral ulcers usually on the tongue, gums and inside of the cheeks.
At the same time, blister-like rash appears over the hands and feet , especially over the palms and soles. This rash also often appears on the buttocks and diaper areas.
	The child may be unable to eat, and sometimes may even vomit and have diarrhoea. The child is often tired and weak.

How is HFMD spread? HFMD is easily spread , usually through direct contact with nasal discharge , saliva, faeces and fluid from the blisters. It can also be spread through contact with toys, books, eating utensils, clothes, bedlinen and other articles used by an infected person. The incubation period (that is, the time it takes from first contact to appearance of the disease symptoms) is usually 3 to 5 days. An infected person is infectious throughout the duration of the disease.

Is this disease serious? Most patients will recover within 7 to 10 days. However, among younger children , rare complications can occur, which include myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) , meningitis and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)

How can you prevent HFMD from being spread, and how do you protect your children and yourself ? Keep the infected child at home , and isolate him from other children in the household. Avoid sharing toys, books, bedlinen, clothes and eating utensils with others. Wash items handled by the infected child separately , and clean and disinfect surfaces and items used by the child with an effective detergent or by boiling the articles. Practise good personal hygiene such as washing of hands before and after using the toilet, and before and after preparing food and changing diapers.

What should you do if you suspect that you or your child has HFMD? Please consult a doctor if you think that you or your child has HFMD. Do not panic, complications are rare and most children recover without any complications.

How do I look after a child infected with HFMD? If the child has a fever, expose his body rather than to wrap him in blankets. Keep the child cool. Take his temperature every 4 hours , and if his temperature goes above 39 degrees C , take him either to KK Childrens Hospital or NUH. An ill child can be bathed or showered as usual. If he is unable to eat, feed him food items that are easily digestible, like porridge and clear soups. Ensure adequate fluid intake. Avoid oily food and dairy products including cow's milk, butter and cheese. Avoid scratching, rubbing or scrubbing the rash . Prevent the infected child from breaking his blisters. Keep the child's rash and blisters clean and dry . Do NOT use plasters or powder on them. An infected child should be kept away from school for at least 1 week. If the infected child becomes very tired or has difficulty breathing, take him as soon as possible to the emergency department of KK Children's Hospital or NUH.

Source: Ministry of Health