Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan said the situation was currently under control and steps were being taken to prevent an outbreak.
A total of 5,686 cases have been reported in Sarawak this year as of Oct 4, compared with 6,286 in the same period last year.
On Sept 30, a four-year-old in Sibu died from suspected HFMD. In view of the death, Dr Chan urged parents to bring their children to hospital immediately if they noticed signs of the disease.
These include high fever for more than two days, repeated vomiting, poor appetite, dehydration and lethargy.
"When we are on high alert for EV71, these danger signs must be watched for very carefully because early treatment can save the child's life," he told a press conference at his office here on Tuesday.
He also advised parents and child carers to practise good hygiene at all times as this was the most effective way of disrupting the spread of the disease.
"Don't think that this is only a children's disease, or that only children can pass it to other children. Adults who come into contact with infected children can pass the virus to others.
So adults themselves must practise good hygiene, such as washing their hands before handling children," he said.
Now, let us bring you more about Hand Foot Mouth Disease
What is Hand Foot Mouth Disease (HFMD)?
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common illness of infants and children caused by a virus. It most often occurs in children under 10 years old. It is characterized by fever, sores/ulcers in the mouth, and a rash with blisters. The blisters may appear in the mouth, palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The rashes may also appear on buttocks and on the legs and arms. The ulcers in the mouth usually appear on the tongue, the sides of the cheeks, gums or near the throat.
What cause Hand Foot Mouth Disease?
The most common causes of Hand, Foot and Mouth disease are coxsackie virus A16, enterovirus 71 (EV71) and other enteroviruses. The enterovirus group includes polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses and other enteroviruses.
What are the Clinical Signs and Symptoms?
Symptoms of HFMD include:
-Fever
-Headache
-Vomiting
-Fatigue
-Malaise
-Sore throat
-Painful oral lesions
-Non-itchy body rash, followed by sores with blisters on palms of hands and soles of feet
-Oral ulcer
-Sores or blisters may be present on the buttocks of small children and infants
-Irritability in infants and toddlers
-Loss of appetite.
-Diarrhea
The common incubation period (the time between infection and onset of symptoms) is from three to seven days.
Early symptoms are likely to be fever followed by a sore throat. Loss of appetite and general malaise may also occur. Between one and two days after the onset of fever, painful sores (lesions) may appear in the mouth and/or throat. A rash may become evident on the hands, feet, and occasionally the buttocks (but generally, the rash on the buttocks will be caused from the diarrhea.) Not all symptoms will be present in all cases.
HFMD occurs mainly in children under 10 years old, but may also occur in adults too. Everyone is at risk of infection, but not everyone who is infected becomes ill. Infants, children, and adolescents are more likely to be susceptible to infection and illness from these viruses, because they are less likely than adults to have antibodies and be immune from previous exposures to them. Infection results in immunity to the specific virus, but a second episode may occur following infection with a different virus belonging to the enterovirus group.
How is Hand Foot Mouth Disease Treated?
Presently, there is no specific effective antivirul drugs and vaccine available for the treatment of HFMD. Symptomatic treatment is given to provide relief from fever, aches, or pain from the mouth ulcers. Dehydration is a concern because the mouth sores may make it difficult and painful for children to eat and drink. Should their affected children be having fever, the parents are advised to dress their children in light, thin clothing, to do tepid sponging with water (room temperature) as often as necessary, and to expose them under the fan. Taking enough liquids is very important apart from body temperature monitoring.
Prevention
- Wash hands carefully. Be sure to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, especially after using the toilet or changing a diaper, and before preparing food and eating. When soap and water aren't available, use hand wipes or gels treated with germ-killing alcohol.
- Disinfect common areas. Get in the habit of cleaning high-traffic areas and surfaces first with soap and water, then with a diluted solution of chlorine bleach, approximately 1/4 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water. Child care centers should follow a strict schedule of cleaning and disinfecting all common areas, including shared items such as toys, as the virus can live on these objects for days. Clean your baby's pacifiers often.
- Teach good hygiene. Be a positive role model by showing your children how to practice good hygiene and how to keep themselves clean. Explain to them why it's best not to put their fingers, hands or any other objects in their mouths.
- Isolate contagious people. Because hand-foot-and-mouth disease is highly contagious, people with the illness should limit their exposure to others while they have active signs and symptoms. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is most contagious during the first week of illness. However, the coxsackievirus may spread for weeks after signs and symptoms have disappeared.
Keep children with hand-foot-and-mouth disease out of child care or school until fever is gone and mouth sores have healed. If you have the illness, stay home from work.
Wish to read more about Hand Foot Mouth Disease? Here are some links for you:
Wikipedia – Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
Patient UK – Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease
MayoClinic – Hand-foot-mouth-disease
eMedicine – Hand-Foot-and-Mouth-Disease
University Malaysia Sarawak - Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease in Sarawak (HFMD)
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