Thais Warned Of Possible Hand, Foot, And Mouth Disease Outbreak

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Thais warned of possible hand, foot, and mouth disease outbreak

BANGKOK, 11 June 2013 (NNT) – The Public Health Ministry is warning all Thais, especially children, against hand-foot and-mouth disease as Thailand has entered the rainy season, during which the disease can spread widely and quickly.

Public Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong said, as Thailand entered the monsoon season of the year, many different diseases could easily arise, especially the hand,foot,and mouth disease, which could be found mostly in children. The minister has, therefore, issued warnings to all schools nationwide.

3 measures need to be taken seriously. Firstly, all schools need to make sure the whole campus is clean, including classrooms, kitchens, restrooms, and all equipment in the school.

Secondly, he says teachers need to check students’ health regularly, especially blisters and rashes on students’ hands, feet, and mouths. And lastly, teachers and students need to be educated and informed about the viral infection.

According to Dr. Pornthep Siriwanarungsun, Director of Department of Disease Control, those who have hand, foot, and mouth disease would experience fever at least 1-2 days before developing fever blisters in the mouths.

However, they would fully recover within a week's time, and only few of them would experience high fever, fatigue, and seizures.

The director said there is no treatment that will take away the virus, but patients should be treated as if they had a common cold.


-- NNT 2013-06-11

[gosompoi]

What about staying home from school when your child is ill and while the blisters and sores are present,plus washing hands frequently and keeping hands out of your mouth.

[aTomsLife]

The press release is a nice and thoughtful gesture, even better would be stocking all restrooms with handsoap.

[Scott]

An off-topic post has been removed.

[Thai at Heart]

And every year is this not the identical problem?

[ABCer]

Somebody, please, enlighten me. I must have fallen behind.

I've heard of foot-and-mouth disease. What's that about hand?

[Scott]

The human version of the disease is referred to as hand, foot and mouth disease. In livestock it is just referred to as foot and mouth disease, I believe.

[surangw]

not the same as thai political disease of foot in mouth ?

[Thai at Heart]

not the same as thai political disease of foot in mouth ?

They have been trying to get rid of a persistent infection among the cabinet officers for 2 years.

[orchidlady]

How about soap in the restrooms? At most of the government schools I have visited, if they have soap, it's only in the teachers restrooms. So the teachers can clean their hands but go out and touch all the surfaces touched by childrens' hands that have not used soap to clean their hands.

[surangw]

How about soap in the restrooms? At most of the government schools I have visited, if they have soap, it's only in the teachers restrooms. So the teachers can clean their hands but go out and touch all the surfaces touched by childrens' hands that have not used soap to clean their hands.

do they still have a communal drinking cup hanging on a string by the water cooler?

[Longtooth]

How about soap in the restrooms? At most of the government schools I have visited, if they have soap, it's only in the teachers restrooms. So the teachers can clean their hands but go out and touch all the surfaces touched by childrens' hands that have not used soap to clean their hands.

do they still have a communal drinking cup hanging on a string by the water cooler?

Absolutely not. It's just sitting there on top of the water bottle, for 100 children, including that little guy with the bad cough! How many Thai teachers know what a bacterium is, to be able to teach the children about it?

[Dr Robert]

There is no specific treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). The condition usually clears up by itself after 7-10 days.

As HFMD is caused by a viral infection, it cannot be treated with antibiotics. Antiviral medications are also ineffective in treating hand foot and mouth disease.You can help ease your child’s symptoms by encouraging them to rest and to drink plenty of fluids (water or milk are ideal while you should avoid anything acidic like cola or orange juice)offering them soft foods, such as mashed potatoes and soup that are easier to chew, making eating and swallowing less uncomfortable using medication to relieve symptoms.Over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol can often help ease a sore throat and a high temperature. Gargle with warm salty water for soar throat and ulcers - mix half a teaspoon of salt (2.5g) with a quarter of a litre of water. It is important never to swallow the water so it’s not recommended for younger children.If your child develops blisters you should avoid piercing them as the fluid inside is infectious. The blisters should dry over and then disappear within seven days.HFMD is very contagious. The best way to avoid catching and spreading it is to avoid close contact with people who have the disease and to practise good hygiene. Complications include dehydration, secondary infections and rarely, viral meningitis and encephalitis which are very serious. If you are worried about your child go straight to your health professional.

[surangw]

do they still have a communal drinking cup hanging on a string by the water cooler?

Absolutely not. It's just sitting there on top of the water bottle, for 100 children, including that little guy with the bad cough! How many Thai teachers know what a bacterium is, to be able to teach the children about it?

in the gov. office they have it attached, too many thefts in the building

[lincsong]

My 4 yo Son caught it from a local kid, then my 1 yo Daughter got it... Now I have it... It is a horrible pain like having been burned quite badly on the soles of the feet and palms and between the fingers... A little rash like symptom around the mouth and nose, and some oozing sores on my scalp. On the second day my kids and I got a very bad fever, with cold sweats, and a very sore throat... Nice, eh?