| Hand foot and mouth disease reported on Grand Turk |
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| Thursday, 10 May 2012 09:49 | |||
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The Ministry of Health and Education says four cases of hand foot and mouth disease have been reported in Grand Turk, bringing the total number of reported cases to 53. All cases were reported in children under the age of 8. The 49 cases on Providenciales and have completely recovered from the illness. HFMD is a contagious disease that primarily affects children. It is transmitted by direct contact with nasal secretions (droplets produced by coughing or sneezing), saliva and stool of infected individuals. HFMD is commonest in child care settings due to frequent contact with soiled diapers and children putting their hands in their mouths. HFMD occasionally occurs in adolescents and adults. Symptoms include some or all of the following: painful sores in the mouth, rashes on the hands and feet, which may be associated with blisters, fever, headache, feeling generally unwell or irritable, runny nose, and/or sore throat. HFMD is mostly a mild and self-limiting illness lasting for a few days. However, there are more severe, albeit uncommon, forms of the disease which are associated with neurological complications as a result of meningitis (associated with fever, headache, and neck stiffness) and encephalitis (resulting in paralysis). There is no specific treatment for HFMD, but symptoms can be treated with paracetamol (Panadol or Tylenol) for fever and pain relief and is often all that is necessary. In some cases HFMD can cause a sore mouth and throat, which makes it difficult to swallow. It is therefore important to maintain adequate fluid intake to avoid dehydration resulting in hospitalization. Symptoms usually resolve within 10 days. The ministry advises to report all cases to a health care provider.
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