Adik kena Hand Foot & Mouth (HFM)

Last Friday (9th July 2010) Zahra was diagnosed with HFM...bertimpa2 plak sakit adik kali ni... biasala nak sampai dia umur 2 tahun kan... At least kali ni dia tak seteruk abang...abang dulu setiap bulan mesti kena buat camping trip at APSH due to his asthmatic attack..Alhamdullillah adik takde asthma..

Dah few days adik agak feverish..Hari rabu sebelum tu dah bawak dia pie clinic..ingatkan dia jangkit demam dari aku..masa tu doktor dah bagi dah ubat2 for fever, flu & cough dia.. tetiba lepas balik dari opis Jumaat tu, masa aku tgh main2 ngan dia aku perasan kat lutut dia banyak bintat2.. aku check satu badan la... sebelum tu aku dah perasan ada 2-3 bintat tapi aku ingat kena ketek nyamuk..so sapu cream jer la..tapi bila perasan bintat tu makin banyak.. aku cuak la...aku tanya Mami..dia cakap tak mungkin chicken pox sbb adik takde demam teruk..biasanya kalu chicken pox demam teruk... dia suspect measles.. so aku bawak la dia p clinic...

masa aku tunjuk bintat2 tu kat doktor, doktor cakap tu bukan measles..tapi HFM... dia suh kuarantin adik & try pisahkan adik dari abang...macamana la aku nak pisahkan 2 org ni.. umah aku bukannya bosar mana..pi mana2 mesti bertembung punya... Alhamdullillah dah berapa hari ni Abang belum menunjukkkan sebarang tanda2 dia berjangkit ngan adik..

Masa first few days yg aku tak tau dia kena HFM ni aku dah risau dah..dia grumpy giler..siap nangis yg meraung2 tu..aku mula la fikir yg bukan2.. sampai ari ni dia masih refuse bottle.. semalam adik aku bagi dia minum guna syringe...ari ni, guna syringe pun tak nak...siap lueh balik lagi.. risau la plak.. takut calcium intake dia insufficient jer.. yg herannya, makan selera semacam jer... bila baca article pasal HFM ni, mmg terjawabla knp dia takmo minum...cuma risau la sbb dia mmg underweight...bila takmo minum ni, lagi la dia kecik...huhuhu

below ni article yg aku dapat dari Sarawak Health on HFM..

What is hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD)?
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common illness of infants and children caused by a virus. It most often occurs in children under 10 years old. It is characterized by fever, sores/ulcers in the mouth, and a rash with blisters. The blisters may appear in the mouth, palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The rashes may also appear on buttocks and on the legs and arms. The ulcers in the mouth usually appear on the tongue, the sides of the cheeks, gums or near the throat.


What causes HFMD?
The most common causes of Hand, Foot and Mouth disease are coxsackie virus A16, enterovirus 71 (EV71) and other enteroviruses. The enterovirus group includes polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses and other enteroviruses.


Is HFMD contagious?
Yes, HFMD is moderately contagious. A person is most contagious during the first week of the illness. The virus can be transmitted from person to person via direct contact with nose and throat discharges, saliva, fluid from blisters, or the stool of infected persons. The virus may continue to be excreted in the stools of infected persons up till 1 month. HFMD is not transmitted to or from pets or other animals.

How soon will someone become ill after getting infected?
The usual period from infection to onset of symptoms (incubation period) is 3 to 7 days. Fever is often the first symptom of HFMD followed by blister/rash.

What are the clinical signs and symptoms?
HFMD begins with a mild fever, poor appetite, malaise ("feeling sick"), and frequently a sore throat. One or 2 days after the fever begins, painful sores develop in the mouth. They begin as small red spots that blister and then often become ulcers. They are usually located on the tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks. The skin rash develops over 1 to 2 days with flat or raised red spots, some with blisters on the palms of the hand and the soles of the feet. A person with HFMD may have only the rash or the mouth ulcers.


How is hand, foot and mouth disease diagnosed?
Hand, foot and mouth disease is usually diagnosed based on a complete history and physical examination of your child. It is generally suspected on the appearance of blister-like rash on hands, feet and mouth in children with a mild febrile illness.
Usually, the doctor can distinguish between HFMD and other causes of mouth sores based on the age of the patient, the pattern of symptoms reported by the patient or parent, and the appearance of the rash and sores on examination. A throat and/or blister swab collected preferably within 2 days of onset of HFMD may be sent to a laboratory to determine which enterovirus caused the illness.


How is HFMD treated?
Presently, there is no specific effective antivirul drugs and vaccine available for the treatment of HFMD. Symptomatic treatment is given to provide relief from fever, aches, or pain from the mouth ulcers. Dehydration is a concern because the mouth sores may make it difficult and painful for children to eat and drink. Should their affected children be having fever, the parents are advised to dress their children in light, thin clothing, to do tepid sponging with water (room temperature) as often as necessary, and to expose them under the fan. Taking enough liquids is very important apart from body temperature monitoring.