Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
**Lately, there has been increasing numbers of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) cases.** More kids down with HFMD
What is Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD)?
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, or HFMD is a contagious illness caused by enterovirus. It is more common among infants and children younger than 5 years old because they do not yet have immunity to the viruses that cause HFMD. However, older children and adults may also get the disease.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Symptoms
Here are some of the symptoms of the disease. They usually appear in stages and not all at once but not everyone will have all of the symptoms.
- Fever
- Reduced appetite
- Sore throat
- Feeling unwell
- Painful mouth sores that usually begin as flat red spots
- Rash of flat red spots that may blister on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and sometimes the knees, elbows, buttocks, and/or genital area
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Infection (How it Spreads)
HFMD spreads from an infected person to others via:
- Close contact, such as kissing, hugging, or sharing cups and eating utensils
- Coughing and sneezing
- Contact with poop, for example when changing a diaper
- Contact with blister fluids
- Touching objects or surfaces that have the viruses on them
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Treatment
There is no specific treatment for HFMD. Fever and pain can be managed by consulting doctors. It is important for people with HFMD to drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration and loss of body fluids.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention
Below are some preventive methods:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water at least for 20 seconds, especially after changing diapers. Help young children do the same.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact such as kissing, hugging, and sharing cups and eating utensils with people who have HFMD.
- Disinfect frequently-touched surfaces and objects, such as toys and door knobs, especially if someone is sick.
Final Thoughts
Generally, an HFMD doesn’t last too long. In fact, for most people with a properly functioning immune system, the symptoms go away after a week or 10 days.
There are no specific treatments recommended for HFMD and the treatments are focus on providing comfort, relieving pain, preventing dehydration, and **strengthening the immune system to fight the HFMD virus.**
**Real-Life Proof: Our Child’s Rapid Recovery from Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease**
**Contact Us** to find out how to boost & strengthening the immune system.
**More information from Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM)**