THERE is a prevalent disease circulating these days called "foot-and-mouth-disease” (FMD for short) which is infecting many of our children. In fact, there was a school that had to close for a day to sanitize its premises because of so many cases among its students.
Hoof-and-mouth disease, a disease of cattle, sheep, and swine is caused by a different virus and not related to the virus that affects humans, which belongs to the enterovirus genus, so humans do not get the animal disease.
Yesterday, my apo, Iñigo, had fever so we rushed him to the doctor. Iñigo’s Mom, Katy, who is a nursery teacher, was worried because she has some cases of FMD among her pupils. The very first instinct of his pediatrician was to check his mouth, his hands and his feet for possible symptoms of FMD because of the rising incidence among his patients. Thank God, Iñigo did not have the telltale signs of FMD.
So what is FMD? Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common viral illness that usually affects infants and children younger than five years old. Sometimes it can occur in adults.
FMD usually starts with a fever, poor appetite, sore throat or when your child is not feeling well or just tired. Painful sores appear in the back of the mouth after a day or two of fever. They will look like small red spots that blister. Young children get dehydrated because of the difficulty to swallow enough liquids due to the painful mouth sores. Pediatricians advise to give them plenty of liquids.
Then, a skin rash develops over one to two days. The rash has flat or raised red spots, sometimes with blisters. These rashes are commonly found on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet but they may also appear on the knees, elbows, legs, buttocks or genital area.
Not everyone infected with FMD may have the symptoms of the disease in all these areas. They may just be isolated in the mouth or have skin rash.
An infected person may spread the FMD virus through close personal contact, the air (through coughing or sneezing), contact with feces and contaminated objects and surfaces. The disease usually breaks out within a community. Children have the tendency to put their hands in their mouths and get infected when they touch infected objects. The incubation period takes about three to six days for a person to get symptoms of hand-foot-and-mouth disease after being exposed to the virus.
Generally, the most contagious period is during the first week of illness and people with FMD must stay home. Good hygiene like hand washing should be exercised at all times to minimize their chance of spreading or getting infections.
To date, there is no vaccine to protect against the viruses that cause hand, foot, and mouth disease. The sores and blisters usually go away in a week or so. In some cases there are no symptoms, or they are very mild. Parents may get the disease from their children and not even realize it.
There are no particular treatments for FMD. However, children should be offered plenty of cool fluids to help with sore throat. Cold foods such as flavored ice pops and ice cream also may help. Children should not be given acidic or spicy foods and drinks, such as sals or orange juice. These foods can make mouth sores more painful. Children may have medicines prescribed by doctors for fever and pain.
Children are most likely to spread the disease during the first week of the illness. But the virus can stay in the stool for several months and may spread to others. To help prevent the disease from spreading, keep infected children at home. Wash frequently after touching a blister or when changing the diaper of an infected child. Teach all family members to wash their hands often. Don't let your child share toys or give kisses while he or she is infected.
Mothers, do not fret because FMD is usually benign and resolves on its own. Your concern is to be on the alert of its symptoms, keep it contained when you spot them to keep it from spreading.
With this knowledge, we should encourage everyone to frequently wash their hands and avoid crowds or areas where possible contamination can occur and go easy on the kissing, hugging and hand shaking.