Vincentians urged to look out for symptoms of HFMD

In the light of a recent increase in cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Ministry of Health, Well­ness and the Environ­ment advises Vincentians, particularly school administrators and parents, to be cautious in how they deal with the cases to minimize a further outbreak.

The symptoms usually include fever, sore throat, reduced appetite, painful sores in the mouth, with blisters on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Blisters may also appear on the knees, elbows, buttocks or genital area.{{more}}

The disease commonly occurs in children under five years of age, but a milder form of the disease may also develop in older children and adults. Parents are advised to seek medical attention to help manage symptoms.

Children can become infected through personal contact, such as hugging, kissing, sharing cups and utensils with other infected children or adults. The virus that causes HFMD can also be spread through coughing and sneezing, contact with nose and throat secretions (such as saliva, sputum, or nasal mucus), blister fluid, and feces (for example when changing a diaper).

The Ministry further advises that HFMD is highly contagious and urges parents to care for children at home and away from other children for a period of 7-10 days, or until the infection is resolved.

The senior nursing officer/Community Nursing Service, Sr Cecile James-Samuel, notes that the best method of prevention is regular hand washing with soap and water for children and their caregivers. Disinfecting surfaces, including toys and doorknobs, can help to minimize and control the spread of the disease.