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Monday, 23 July 2012

Hand, Foot & Mouth

Today i will be talking about a disease called the Hand, Foot & Mouth disease (HFMD). What is HFMD? HFMD is a viral infection cause by a group of enteroviruses, most commonly the Coxsackie virus. It is a common childhood infection. The incubation period of HFMD is normally 3 to 5 days, however the shortest can be 2 days and the maximum can be 2 weeks.

Symptoms of HFMD
The following are symptoms of HFMD for a child

  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Mouth ulcers on the sides of the tongue or inside of the mouth
  • Poor appetite
  • Lethargy
  • Vomiting and/or diarrhea
  • Rash or small blisters on the palm of hands, soles of feet, and/or buttocks.
How HFMD spreads.
It spread from direct contact with the infected person's nasal discharge, saliva, feces and fluids from the rash. A person infected with HFMD is contagious throughout the duration of the illness.

What to do if your child has HFMD
  • Inform your child's school so that they can take additional precaution for other children to see if they are infected.
  • Keep your child at home and away from public
  • See if other family members are infected
  • Have good hygiene practices such as
  1. Wash hands frequently and properly
  2. Cover mouth when coughing or sneezing.
  3. Do not share food/drinks, utensils, towels and toothbrushes. 
-QiZhi

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