Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) has hit epidemic levels in Singapore, with over three times as many cases in the first 18 weeks of 2012, as compared to the same period in 2011.
In the week of 29 April to 5 May alone, there were 1,468 cases reported, according to latest statistics published by the Ministry of Health. This is slightly fewer than the week prior, in which 1,590 cases were reported - a four-year high.
Given such numbers, it is no wonder that parents are worried. The best way we can be equipped to fight against the spread of HFMD is to learn more about the condition, keep abreast of the news of outbreaks in our neighbourhood and be prepared in the event that our children are infected.
What is HFMD?
HFMD is an illness caused by intestinal viruses, with the commonest being Coxsackie virus and Enterovirus 71. While most cases of HFMD are mild and self-resolving, serious complications involving the nervous system, lungs and heart can occasionally occur, although quite rarely. Such complications are usually due to the Enterovirus 71 strain.
Who gets affected?
Both adults and children can be affected but the younger ones, particularly those under the age of five, are most susceptible.
What are the symptoms?
A person with HFMD usually has the following symptoms:
• Fever • Sore throat
• Rash (flat or raised red spots) or small blisters on the palms of hands, soles of feet, or buttocks
• Ulcers on the inside of the mouth or sides of the tongue • Poor appetite
• Lethargy
The incubation period is three to five days, with symptoms usually starting three days to a week after being infected. Symptoms can last a week to 10 days.
How is HFMD spread?
The virus is spread from person to person by direct contact with the nasal discharge, saliva, and fluid from inside the blisters of an infected person, and can also linger in faeces for up to several weeks after infection.
Will my child get it again?
Once recovered, the chance that your child will have a recurrence of HFMD is slim, although not impossible. A child with a healthy immune system will form antibodies to whichever virus caused the infection. If a child is exposed to the same strain of virus, they will probably not be re-infected. However, they are still susceptible, in varying degrees, to other viruses.