We have had an increase of HFMD in the community, and we wanted to pass along some information to make parents aware as it is highly contagious. HFMD is a common illness caused by enteroviruses, including coxsackievirus. It usually affects infants and children younger than five years old, but older children and adults can still become infected. Adults are often exposed but show no symptoms.
Symptoms
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Malaise
- Loss of appetite
- Skin rash/blisters that begin as small red dots which later become ulcers. They appear inside the cheeks, on the sides of the tongue, on palms of the hands, on the soles of the feet and on the buttocks
How it is spread
- Person-to-person through nose and throat secretions as well as saliva
- After touching contaminated objects
- By direct contact with the fluid from vesicles
Treatment
- Antibiotics are not effective in treating this viral illness.
- Allow blisters to dry out naturally; they usually last for 7 to 10 days.
- Make sure young children are drinking enough as painful mouth sores can make them reluctant to swallow liquids.
- Fever can be treated with paracetamol, acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Back to school
Children with HFMD should be excluded from school until their blisters have dried up, their rash has gone and any fever has settled.
Kinds Regards,
School Office
Discovery Bay International School