My son is feverish and has a blister on his hand! What should I do?

If your child attends a kindergarten or childcare where cases of Hand, Foot & Mouth disease (HFMD) have been recently identified, it would be best to see a doctor immediately. However, a child with HFMD may suffer from a number of different symptoms. So, having blisters and a fever may not mean that he or she definitely has HFMD.

Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease (HFMD) is caused by certain viruses. It is usually a mild disease, but if caused by the Enterovirus 71 (EV71 virus), HFMD can be fatal. HFMD cases occur throughout the year in Singapore, but from time to time, outbreaks do occur in childcare centres, kindergartens and schools. In recent weeks, there has been a rise of HFMD here, with 1261 cases identified in the week ending 21 August (Weekly Infectious Disease Bulletin, Ministry of Health). There has also been an increase in the circulation of the EV71 virus among HFMD patients.

HFMD is spread by direct contact among individuals through the nasal discharge, saliva, faeces and fluid from the rash of an infected person. Both adults and children can be affected, but young children are more susceptible to the disease. Some children have a habit of frequently bringing their fingers to their mouths or faces, and this greatly increases their chances of infection if their fingers had earlier been in contact with infected droplets on exposed surfaces such as toys and table tops.

If your child has the following symptoms, he or she may have HFMD:

-    fever
-    sore throat
-    ulcers in the throat, mouth and tongue
-    headache
-    rash with small small blisters between 3-7 mm wide on hands, feet and diaper area. These blisters are usually on the palm side of the hands, the sole side of the feet and have a very distinct appearance. The rash may also be present on the buttocks, arms and legs.
-    loss of appetite

If your young child shows any of the above, it is best that you visit the doctor for a proper diagnosis. In some cases, complications such as brain, lung or heart infections may occur, usually due to the EV 71 virus, and can turn fatal. Symptoms of complications include severe headache, giddiness and neck stiffness, disorientation, drowsiness and/or  irritability, breathlessness or turning blue.

Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment for HFMD though the doctor may describe medications to relieve the symptoms, such as paracetamol for fever.. If your child has HFMD, encourage him or her to stay at home and gets plenty of rest, drink a lot of fluids, switch to a soft diet (e.g. porridge) if suffering from painful mouth ulcers and take the medications given by the doctor.

You and your child can help to prevent the spread of HFMD through these good personal hygiene habits:

- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue whenever you sneeze or cough, and throw the tissue into a bin immediately
- After and in-between activities, wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with a suitable soap such as Kirei Kirei Anti-bacterial Foaming Hand Soap. If soap and water are not available, a rinse-free sanitizer such as Kirei Kirei Anti-bacterial Hand Sanitizer is a good alternative. Don’t wait until your hands feel or look dirty before you wash them.
- Encourage everyone in your family to wash their hands before meals
- Ensure that children always wash their hands after visiting the toilet
- Take a good bath twice a day with soap. Kirei Kirei Anti-bacterial Body Foam is one of the suitable options you can consider.

In addition, do practise the following:

- Consult your family doctor if your child shows any signs or symptoms of HFMD
- Keep the affected child’s toys, books, eating utensils, towels and clothes separate from others
- Keep ill children away from public places such as schools, playgrounds, shopping centres and food outlets. If only one of your children is sick, let them sleep in separate rooms 

Note: Since 13th August, the Ministry of Health has been publishing the list of closed childcare centres and kindergartens, and those with prolonged transmission of HFMD, so as to keep parents informed. You can view the list here. 

For more information on HFMD, visit www.hpb.gov.sg/infectiousdiseases

Answer these questions below to win a Kirei Kirei Gift Set worth $50 (3 winners)!

1. Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease (HFMD) only affects young children, adults will not get infected. True or False?
2. Washing your hands regularly with soap such as Kirei Kirei Anti-bacterial Foaming Hand Soap can help to prevent the spread of HFMD. True or False?

Email your answers to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  with 'Kirei Kirei - Contest 3' in the subject header, and include your name, IC No, contact number and address. Closing date is 3 September 2010. All winners will be contacted by email.

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