Popular TV host and actress Kris Aquino and her two children have been afflicted with hand, foot, and mouth disease or HFMD. They are admitted and being treated in a health facility.
Here’s a brief information about HFMD.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease
HFMD is a viral disease common in children under 10 years old. It may also infect adults. It causes fever and blister in the mouth and skin rash.
HFMD is different with foot-and-mouth or hoof-and-mouth disease. The two diseases are caused by different viruses. Foot and mouth is an illness of cattle, sheep, and swine.
Symptoms
- Fever, poor appetite, malaise (depression), sore throat.
- Painful sores or small red spots erupt one or two days after the onset of fever onset. These spots develop in the tongue, gums and inside the cheeks.
- Non-itchy rash develops on the palm of the hands and soles of the feet. It may also appear on the buttocks and genitalia.
Transmission
- Infection is spread from person to person thru direct contact.
- Nose and throat secretions, saliva, blister fluid and stool of infected person.
- The infection is highly contagious during the first week of the illness.
- Some cases are asymptomatic or those that do not manifest symptoms.
Treatment
- There is no specific treatment for HFMD.
- Pain reliever can be administered for pain caused by mouth sores, fever and aches
- Mouthwashes or sprays that numb pain can be used to lessen mouth pain.
- Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
Prevention
- Good hygiene practices such as hand washing before and after handling of food, after toilet use, cleaning dirty surfaces and soiled items can lower the risk of infection.
- Avoiding close contact such as kissing, hugging, sharing eating utensils or cups with persons with HFMD.
source:Â www.cdc.gov