Just as the school year is winding down and families are preparing for vacation, hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is making an appearance in pre-schools and kindergartens around the city, as reported by Shine. Unfortunately, this has resulted in at least one school in Minhang district suspending classes for the week.
HFMD is considered a mild viral infection and its ability to spread easily through bodily fluids makes young children particularly susceptible. Knowing the symptoms and understanding how to contain HFMD can help reduce the chances of your child catching the virus or spreading it to other children; allowing your family the carefree, relaxing summer that’s just around the corner.
Fever and sore throat are the most common symptoms of HFMD, but many cases also report rashes, sores and blisters, particularly on the palms, feet and inside the mouth. These mouth blisters can be one of the most painful symptoms of HFMD as they cause pain while swallowing, making children dehydrated, as is introduced by Mayo Clinic.
HFMD will go away on its own after 7-10 days. There is no specific treatment for the virus, however over the counter medication to manage any fever as well as popsicles to help a sore throat.
The child is most contagious the first week after receiving the virus so take extra precaution to keep them away from their classmates and friends during this time, to stop the spread. Make sure that your child washes their hands thoroughly and it is recommended to clean toys and other objects that your child commonly touches so that others don’t contract the virus.
The number of cases reported should decrease as schools begin to close for the summer. “This is the season for HFMD, starting from April, and more cases are being seen this year (compared with 2017),” Pan Hao, an official at the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention warned, tells Shine. “From late June or July, the number of HFMD cases should drop significantly with the arrival of school summer vacation.”
[Top Image via Today's Parent]
