What to do if your kids get HFMD

JAKARTA (JP): Below is general information released by the city health agency regarding the hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD), which mainly affects children under 10 years of age, and tips on how to avoid the disease.

The HFMD symptoms: Generally start with fever, loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing and a runny nose. After several days ulcers will appear on the palms, feet and probably on the gums and tongue. Patients usually recover within a week.

The disease can spread through direct contact with the virus. Transmission of the disease occurs easily between people who have close contact.

A person can suffer from the disease more than once.

The symptoms:

1. A two or three-day fever.

2. Headache.

3. Vomiting, diarrhea and tiredness.

4. Ulcers around the mouth, hands, feet and buttocks.

The incubation period of the virus is between three to five days and the patient will usually recover within seven to 10 days.

So far there is no vaccine or medicine to cure the disease.

Prevention:

1. Avoid contact with patients and maintain children's hygiene.

2. Do not take sufferers to public places so as to limit the contagion.

3. Visit a doctor if the symptoms persist.

4. Maintain hygiene by washing hands before and after meals, after going to the toilet or if in contact with HFMD sufferers.

5. Use a bleach solution to clean the toys of children suffering from the disease. (ind)