Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is an cute viral disease. HFMD is characterised by fever, mouth ulcers, skin rashes and sore throat. It affects mainly children below the age of 10 although many adults do get infected. HFMD is caused by many members of virus family, Enterovirus. The most common culprit is Coxsackie A16.
HFMD is spread by direct contact with the infected person's salvia, nasal discharge, faeces and vesicular fluid. It is also spread by indirect contact through contaminated objected handled by the infected person.
The symptoms of HFMD is a fever lasting 2-3 days, followed by sore throat with blister-like vesicles on the mouth. The vesicles would burst and leave painful ulcers on the gums and the side of the tongue. There may be raised red vesicular skin lesions on the palms, soles and buttocks. These symptoms can last for 7-10 days. The infected person may have diarrhoea and vomiting.
There is no cure or vaccine for HFMD. Hence, it is important to prevent the disease in the first place.
Fortunately, most cases of HFMD are mild. However, there are the occasional complications affecting the nervous system, heart and lungs which affect mainly children under the age of 5. So it is necessary to be vigilant.
Symptoms of severe HFMD are prolonged high fever, difficulty in breathing, chest pain, poor appetite, severe vomiting with dehydration, general weakness or numbness, confused mental state and lethargy. Patients with such symptoms should be sent to the nearest hospital.
Personal hygiene is an important preventive measure especially for young children. Cultivate good habits such as hand-washing. If anybody in the family is affected, avoid close contact and wash his or her personal belonging thoroughly. Especially things which may be soiled with saliva or faeces.
See more information on Severe HFMD
See more information on Severe HFMD
