Hand, foot and mouth disease returns to torment children

PUNE: Two-year-old Archit was on a holiday with his parents in Lonavla a week ago when he suddenly became irritable and had difficulty in swallowing. Due to the condition, the family cut short their vacation and rushed back to Pune.
When examined, it was found that the child had many ulcers in the mouth. “The general body examination revealed unusually large skin blisters had popped up on his hand, palms, feet and buttocks.He was diagnosed with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) eventually,” paediatrician Jitendra Oswal said.
At a time when the city is bending over backwards to curb mosquito-borne infections like dengue, HFMD is spreading rapidly, especially among children below five years of age. Some of the doctors have also reported cases among children up to 10 years. The viral infection, a benign but irritating one, is characterised by painful rashes along with throat infection and fever.

“There has been a sudden rise in HFMD cases among children in Pune in the last 15 days. I am seeing around 6-7 children with the disease daily,” Oswal said, adding, “The disease is contagious and spreads easily through contact and saliva, especially in classrooms. It is usually a mild self-limiting illness.”
The city has been reporting the HFMD cases almost every year. However, what is worrying doctors this time around is its unusual presentation. “The vesicles (blisters) this time around are little larger in size and they are predominantly seen on buttocks. Usually, vesicles are mainly seen on hands and feet and in mouth,” senior paediatrician Shishir Modak, who has been seeing four to five cases of HFMD every day, said.
Paediatrician Sanjay Bafana, who practices in the Camp area, said, “In addition to larger vesicles, I have also come across children with HFMD complaining of high-grade fever. Besides, I am also witnessing the disease in slightly older age groups, above five years of age.”
“The course of the disease is of five to seven days. Antibiotics are of no help. The treatment is only symptomatic,” Modak added.
Parents often confuse HFMD with chicken pox. “Unlike HFMD, vesicles (blisters) are seen on back and abdomen in chicken pox, which is caused by a different virus,” Modak said, adding that parents should keep on coaxing their kids to eat softened food and adequate water intake should also be monitored.
Sundari Jaishankar, principal, DSK School, said, “Last year, we had observed quite a few cases of HFMD. This year, however, I have not noticed many cases. We have announced holidays for Christmas so there won’t be much mingling of students. We also advise parents to not send their wards to school if they see HFMD-like symptoms in their kids.”