'Hand, foot, mouth' disease and prevention

Currently, 'hand, foot, mouth' disease has been happening in some localities. The cause is caused by enterovirus 71. Here are some basic insights about 'hand, foot, mouth' disease and how to prevent it.

Some basic insights about 'hand, foot, mouth' disease

Injury in hand, foot and mouth syndrome caused by enterovirus 71 (Photo: vadscorner) Hand, foot and mouth disease caused by entero virus is quite popular in the world, often occurs in tropical and subtropical countries. The disease has occurred in many countries around the world. Enterovirus outbreaks have been recorded in Taiwan, China (1998), Malaysia (1997). The disease occurs primarily in children. Male manifestations are more pronounced in women.

The disease manifests fever, swollen mouth, rash with blisters. The disease usually begins with mild fever, poor appetite, fatigue and throat swelling. 1-2 days later there are red spots with blisters and broken into ulcers. These spots are usually on the tongue, gums and inside the cheeks. The skin lesions also appear after 1-2 days, manifesting red spots, may be blistering, not itchy and often located in the palm, soles of the feet. Hand, foot and mouth diseases are completely different from foot and mouth disease (also known as foot and mouth disease) in buffalos, cows, sheep and pigs. Although many people mistakenly diagnose the two diseases together due to their similar names, the disease is caused by two completely different viruses.

The disease usually has a mild clinical manifestation, recovering after 7-10 days. Complications are rare, but there are also severe cases of meningitis with symptoms such as fever, headache, stiff neck or back pain. Very rarely complications of acute encephalitis or softening of the brain.

The disease is caused by the intestinal virus group. The most common viruses are coxsackievirus A16, sometimes caused by enterovirus 71 or other enterovirus types. Epidemic is happening in some provinces in our country today, according to laboratory results of Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, confirmed by enterovirus 71.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is an infectious disease. The disease is spread from person to person by direct contact with saliva, secretions of the nose, throat, fluid of blisters when broken, or through the fecal-oral route. The highest transmission is possible within the first week after infection, however, it is shown that the virus is still excreted in the feces weeks later. It is found that viruses exist in water, soil, and vegetables. People can also get sick from eating contaminated food and water.

Until now, there is no specific antiviral drug to treat the disease. Mainly symptomatic treatments for fever reduction, ulcers caused by ulcers and treatment of complications if any.

Prevention measures

Enterovirus 71 (Photo: yamagiku)

Until now, there is no specific preventive measure, but the risk of infection can be significantly reduced if the following measures are well implemented:

1. Personal hygiene like washing hands often, especially after changing diapers for children.

2. Wash all tools and supplies, toys that can be infected with water and soap, then disinfect with 5% chloramin B.

3. Minimize direct contact such as kissing, use common tools with sick children or patients and apply some measures to limit the spread of diseases by stool, other mouths such as eating cooked, boiling water .

4. Isolate patients, sick children in the first few days of illness can also significantly reduce the possibility of infection.

Remember to wash your hands when:

1. Before, after cooking, and preparing food.
2. Before eating, after defecating, urinate.
3. When hands dirty.
4. Hands should be washed often when sick and sick people in the family.

How to wash your hands properly:

1. First do all wet hands and use soap or cake soap. Put the soap in the rack, drain and dry.
2. Brush, rub both hands together carefully and make sure to wash all the fingers and fingers.
3. Continue to scrub thoroughly for 10-15 seconds. Thorough scrubbing and soap will help eliminate and remove all pathogens that stick to your hands.
4. Rinse well and dry or dry your hands.

Steps to clean tools, surfaces and disinfectants:

1. Rubber gloves must be used when cleaning up vomit, stool, especially when your hands have scratches or your family has a sick person.
2. First, wipe surfaces (table, chair, floor) with soap and water or other cleaners.
3. After cleaning, you can use disinfectant chemicals such as 5% chloramin B solution to apply evenly on those surfaces and keep for a few minutes. This allows the pathogen to come into contact with chemical disinfectants for longer.
4. Wipe surfaces with disposable paper towels or table cloths. If using a tablecloth, wash towels after use.

Keep cleaning and sterilizing equipment away from children.

Always, even if you use gloves, wash your hands after each cleaning and disinfection.