Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)

Context

There has been a spike in cases of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in Mumbai.

As per data provided by the state’s public health department, till August 28, Maharashtra has reported 250 cases of hand-foot-and-mouth disease.

About

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease:

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is common in children under the age of 5, but anyone can get it.
It is most commonly caused by a coxsackievirus, which belongs to a group of viruses called nonpolio enteroviruses.
The illness is usually not serious, but is very contagious.
It spreads quickly at schools and daycare centers.
HFMD is a self-limiting disease and most patients recover within a week.

Not the Same as Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is often confused with foot-and-mouth disease (also called hoof-and-mouth disease), which affects cows, sheep, and pigs.
Humans do not get the animal disease, and animals do not get the human disease.

Symptoms:

The first signs of hand, foot and mouth disease can be:

a sore throat
a high temperature
not wanting to eat
Ulcers appear in the mouth and on the tongue. These can be painful and make it difficult to eat or drink.
Raised spots usually appear on the hands and feet, and sometimes on the thighs and bottom as well.
The spots can look pink, red, or darker than surrounding skin, depending on your skin tone.
The spots become blisters which appear grey or lighter than surrounding skin and can be painful.

How it spreads?

It spreads through person-to-person contact when an infected person’s nose secretions or throat discharge, saliva, fluid from blisters, stool or respiratory droplets are sprayed into the air after a cough or sneeze.

Treatment:

There's no cure for HFMD or no vaccine to prevent it.
Those children with HFMD will have to drink enough water to stay hydrated.
The disease will go away without treatment.
But, many children will need medication for painful blisters as prescribed by the doctor. It requires symptomatic treatment.