Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Hand Foot and Mouth Disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a human syndrome caused by intestinal viruses in the Picornaviridae family. The more common strains causing HFMD is the Coxsackie A virus and the Enterovirus 71 (EV71).[1]
HFMD usually affects infants and children, and is quite common. It is highly contagious and is spread through direct contact with the mucus, saliva, or feces of an infected person. It typically occurs in small epidemics in nursery schools or kindergartens, usually during the summer and autumn months. The usual incubation period is 3-7 days.
It is extremely uncommon in adults, however still a possibility. Most adults have strong enough immune systems to utterly defeat the virus, however those with immune deficiencies are very susceptible. HFMD is NOT to be confused with foot-and-mouth disease, which is a disease affecting sheep, cattle and swine, and which is unrelated to HFMD (but also caused by a member of the Picornaviridae family).Symptoms of HFMD include:
fever 101F-103F
malaise
sore throat
painful oral lesions
non-itchy body rash, followed by sores with blisters on palms of hands and soles of feet
mouth ulcers
sores or blisters may be present on the buttocks of small children and infants
Not all symptoms may be present.There is no specific treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease. Individual symptoms, such as fever, lameness and pain from the sores, may be eased with the use of medication. HFMD is a viral disease that has to run its course; many doctors do not issue medicine for this illness, unless the infection is severe. The infection in older children, adolescents and adults is normally very mild and lasts around 3 days sometimes quicker. Fever reducers will help to control high temperatures. Luke-warm baths will also help bring temperature down.
Only a very small minority require hospital admission, mainly as a result of neurological complications (encephalitis, meningitis or acute flaccid paralysis) or pulmonary edema/pulmonary hemorrhage.We must do good hyigene practices to prevent these disease.

Posted by Alina Tan at Wednesday, April 23, 2008