Hi Mummies,
Found this article about HFMD in the Mum Centre website, for your reading :-
By Sujatha Rajagopal
Spotting the symptoms? Know what to do.
My son was three when he had hand, foot, mouth disease (HFM). It was a violent wake-up call for me from the “Oh, it won’t happen to us” stage in my parenting life. But it did happen to us. Thankfully, my son recovered quickly as do many children with HFM. However, the episode definitely gave me a scare while it remained and made my family more aware of hand washing and other ways to prevent infections!
What is hand, foot and mouth disease?
HFM sounds like the foot and mouth disease (or hoof and mouth disease) common among farm animals like cows, pigs and sheep. But it isn’t the same illness. Neither do you get HFM from animals. HFM is
A viral infection that usually affects young kids, (below five years old)
Identified by fever and blisters in the patient’s mouth and on his hands and feet
Very common and rarely serious although the infection may still be contagious for a few weeks after recovery.
What are the symptoms?
Common symptoms include:
Fever of 38° Celsius or more (early symptom)
Trouble eating or poor appetite (early symptom)
Sore throat and/ or cough
Blisters inside the mouth and cheeks. Possibly, ulcers on the tongue and palate
Blisters or sores on the palms of hands and soles of feet. Possibly, the buttocks
General fatigue, lethargy and irritability.
Many parents are stunned when their child is diagnosed with HFM because the blisters may not be very obvious to the eyes.
What causes HFM?
The prime culprit is a group of enteroviruses. Of these, the coxsackievirus A16 is one of the most common causes of HFM. HFM may also be caused by enterovirus 71 or other enteroviruses.
Is it contagious?
Most definitely. When your child’s hands are constantly groping and seeking new adventures in new places and then going into his mouth, you shouldn’t be surprised that he is at risk.
Enteroviruses are very common in school, day care and play settings. They sit on books, toys and eating or writing surfaces. They spread easily when a child breathes in what an infected child sneezes or coughs out. Your child may also be in contact with the nasal discharge, saliva, blister fluid or even the stools of an infected child. This is one of the reasons why diaper-changing stations in day care centres need to be sanitized after every change.
Can adult caregivers get it?
Caregivers may catch the infection from their kids if they do not take precautions (see below). However, many adults and even teens are already immune to the virus through a previous childhood infection.
How is HFM treated?
Antibiotics won’t work since HFM is a viral illness. The disease usually resolves by itself within 10 days. Your doctor may prescribe fever and/ or pain relievers and advise giving your child plenty of rest and fluids. If your child isn’t able to chew or swallow due to the sores, try offering him more milk, porridge, soups, fresh juices and soft puddings for a few days.
Sucking on ice chips or eating ice cream may help ease his oral discomfort. If your child knows how to rinse his mouth without swallowing the water, give him a salt-water gargling solution (1/2 teaspoon salt mixed in 1 cup warm water) twice a day. This can reduce the stinging of the mouth sores. Help him to stay away from sour, salty and spicy foods until he is fully recovered.
The sores on his hands and feet may not be itchy. However, do prevent your child from scratching them if he tries to.
Can there be complications?
If your child isn’t able to eat or drink properly, he may get dehydrated. Make sure he is drinking a cup of juice or water, at least once every hour.
In very rare cases, the infection may lead to viral (not bacterial) meningitis or encephalitis. Viral meningitis is a less serious infection of the membranes of the brain and spine. It usually resolves on its own. Encephalitis is a serious and potentially life-threatening brain inflammation.
Weren’t there cases of fatal HFM a few years ago?
A HFM outbreak in Malaysia (1997) and Taiwan (1998) caused complications of encephalitis and death. In 2000, Singapore experienced its largest HFM outbreak to date with over 3,700 infections and five deaths*. These outbreaks have helped the governments of these countries to put in place more effective reporting systems and take appropriate preventive measures.
However, HFM in itself is rarely life-threatening. Complications like the above can be prevented if we remember to respond quickly to symptoms and give unwavering attention to our family’s wellbeing.
How can we prevent HFM?
Teach your child to wash his hands frequently and thoroughly, especially after he has used the toilet and before he eats. Be a positive role model!
Keep a no-rinse cleaning solution or antiseptic wipes with you when you go out with your child.
Disinfect your child’s toys, pacifiers and diaper-changing areas regularly. Speak to your child’s day care coordinator about their disinfecting policies.
If there is a HFM outbreak in his school or if your child has HFM, take precautions to isolate him from the other kids and don’t allow him (if possible) to kiss or hug healthy siblings. Be aware that although your child has recovered, the virus may still be active in his body for a few weeks. This means that he is still contagious despite looking healthy.
Most important, never assume anything. Stay in touch with the doctor if your child’s fever worsens or he is continually irritable despite receiving medical attention.
*Chan KP, Goh KT, Chong CY, Teo ES, Lau G, Ling AE. Epicemic hand, foot and mouth disease caused by human enterovirus 71, Singapore. Emerg Infect Dis [serial online] 2003.
Available from:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol9no1/02-0112.htm
Other sources:
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http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/coxsackie.html
•
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hand-foot-and-mouth-disease/DS00599
•
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/hfhf.htm
This article is for information only and is not intended nor should be used for self-treatment or self-diagnosis. Please consult your doctor for advice and treatment.