MANISH GUPTA
Ranchi, Sept 22: Paediatricians in the state capital report spread of the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) among children. Though the doctors have advised caution, they say that it is a common, self-limiting disease and there is little to worry about.
“We are getting 5-10 cases of HFMD daily. Last year, I doubt we got even a single case. This is a highly infectious viral disease. It generally spreads among children in the age group of one to 10,” Ranchi Civil Surgeon Dr Vinod Kumar told lagatar24.com.
The general symptoms are fever, sore throat, cough, mouth ulcers, poor appetite, and rashes in the palms and soles. It is commonly caused by coxsackievirus and spreads by physical contact, sneezing or coming in contact with an infected child’s saliva or faeces.
“There is no specific medical treatment for this disease. Medicines can be prescribed to relieve the symptoms. It generally cures within a week or 10 days. The children should maintain hygiene and clean their hands with soap and water frequently,” he said.
Dr Amar Verma, Head of the Paediatrics Department at Ranchi-based Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), said, “I won’t say for sure whether the disease has increased from last year but yes we do see one or two cases now and then at RIMS.
“The disease will go away on its own. There’s only symptomatic treatment for HFMD in cases where the lesions in the hands and legs are painful. One should ideally not send their children to school to prevent spreading the infection among other children.”
Doctors advise personal hygiene practices, no sharing of the infected child’s towels and utensils, no hugging and kissing the child, disinfecting articles touched by the child, and keeping the child hydrated as the soreness and ulcers may affect swallowing.
