COMMUNICABLE AND NON COMMUNICABLE DISEASE: Hand Foot Mouth Disease ( HFMD )

HFMD

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common viral illness that usually affects infants and children younger than 5 years old. However, it can sometimes occur in adults. Hand foot and mouth disease a mild, contagious viral infection common in young children is characterized by sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. Hand foot and mouth disease is most commonly caused by a coxsackievirus.

The painful palms, feet etc caused by HFMD haemorrhaging effect.

SYMPTOMS

Fever
Sore throat
Feeling of being unwell (malaise)
Painful, red, blister-like lesions on the tongue, gums and inside of the cheeks
A red rash, without itching but sometimes with blistering, on the palms, soles and sometimes the buttocks
Irritability in infants and toddlers
Loss of appetite
A fever is often the first sign of hand-foot-and-mouth disease, followed by a sore throat and sometimes a poor appetite and malaise.
One or two days after the fever begins, painful sores may develop in the mouth or throat. A rash on the hands and feet and possibly on the buttocks can follow within one or two days.

INCUBATION PERIOD

The usual period from initial infection to the onset of signs and symptoms (incubation period) is three to six days.

PREVENTION

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is spread from person to person through nose and throat secretions (such as saliva, sputum, or nasal mucus), blister fluid, or stool of infected persons. You can lower your risk of being infected by

Washing your hands often with soap and water
Disinfecting dirty surfaces and soiled items
Avoiding close contact such as kissing, hugging, or sharing eating utensils or cups with infected persons
If a person has mouth sores, it might be painful to swallow. However, drinking liquids is important to stay hydrated. If a person cannot swallow enough liquids, these may need to be given through an IV in their vein.
Teach good hygiene. Show your children how to practice good hygiene and how to keep themselves clean. Explain to them why it's best not to put their fingers, hands or any other objects in their mouths.
Isolate contagious people. Because hand-foot-and-mouth disease is highly contagious, people with the illness should limit their exposure to others while they have active signs and symptoms. Keep children with hand-foot-and-mouth disease out of child care or school until fever is gone and mouth sores have healed. If you have the illness, stay home from work.
Disinfect common areas. Get in the habit of cleaning high-traffic areas and surfaces first with soap and water, then with a diluted solution of chlorine bleach and water. Child care centers should follow a strict schedule of cleaning and disinfecting all common areas, including shared items such as toys, as the virus can live on these objects for days. Clean your baby's pacifiers often.

TREATMENT

There is no specific treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease. However, some things can be done to relieve symptoms, such as

Taking over-the-counter medications to relieve pain and fever (Caution: Aspirin should not be given to children.)
Using mouthwashes or sprays that numb mouth pain
There's no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Signs and symptoms of hand-foot-and-mouth disease usually clear up in seven to 10 days.

A topical oral anesthetic may help relieve the pain of mouth sores. Over-the-counter pain medications other than aspirin, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) may help relieve general discomfort.

Persons who are concerned about their symptoms should contact their health care provider.