Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a mildly contagious disease that is common among young children.
It is caused by the Coxsackievirus A16 and was discovered in the 1950s. Over the years, scientists have collected information on the disease and found that the virus is mainly spread through surface contact. The virus is quickly spread usually in schools, nurseries, hospitals, and playgrounds.
The symptoms of HFMD include;
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Painful, red, blister-like lesions on the tongue, gums and inside of the cheeks
- Red rashes, without itching but sometimes with blistering, on the palms, soles and sometimes the buttocks
- Irritability in infants and toddlers
- Loss of appetite
Thus, the public is urged to wash hands regularly and routinely sanitize the common areas especially highly contact surfaces such as doorknobs, toilet seats, light switches etc. It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to taking care of your kids’ health.
