The Ministry of Health provides an update on hand, foot and mouth disease

Over the past two months, an increase in the number of foot-and-mouth disease cases has been recorded.

Based on the analysis of data received from health facilities, this trend was observed throughout August with increases in September. It is not uncommon to encounter cases of hand-foot-mouth disease at this time of year, as studies show the correlation between the increased incidence of this disease and heavy rainfall.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a contagious viral disease commonly seen in young children. It mainly affects children in the age brackets of 0 to 5 years, but can also affect older children and adults.

The virus is transmitted from an infected person through their

• Nose and throat secretions, such as saliva, drool, or nasal mucus
• Fluid from blisters or scabs
• Feces (poo)
• Respiratory droplets when coughing or sneezing
• Symptoms associated with hand, foot and mouth disease include
• Fever for 3-5 days
• Sore throat
• Decreased appetite and generally feeling unwell
• Loose stools
• Rash that normally appears on the palms of the hands and fingers, the soles of the feet and toes, the top of the buttocks and around the mouth. In some cases, the rash may only appear on the arms and legs.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is not a serious illness, it is usually mild and self-limiting, but in some cases the blisters in the mouth can lead to dehydration and hospitalization of the infected child. The disease normally disappears in 7 to 10 days. The disease is highly contagious given its mode of transmission and the age group affected and can often lead to outbreaks in educational settings.

To prevent the spread of disease, the importance of appropriate infection prevention and control measures should be emphasized:

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the toilet, before eating, after wiping your nose and after changing diapers or soiled clothes.
• Avoid sharing cups, cooking utensils, personal hygiene items (eg towels, washing machines and toothbrushes) and clothing (especially shoes and socks).
• Thoroughly wash all soiled clothing or contaminated surfaces and toys with soap and water.
• Additional disinfection of toys and surfaces with a dilute chlorine solution should be practiced.
• Teach children to practice cough and sneeze etiquette:
• Cover their coughs and sneezes with their elbow or a tissue
• Throw used tissues in the trash
• And then practice hand washing with soap and water

Educators observe and monitor any child showing signs and symptoms of hand-foot-mouth disease. Parents, keep your sick children home and away from other children. The sick child should not return to school until all skin lesions have healed, usually within 7 to 10 days.

Hand, foot and mouth disease can be caused by many viruses, so a child can be infected more than once. It is essential that we, parents and educators, remain vigilant to enable the rapid detection of new cases and institute the appropriate infection prevention and control measures to prevent the spread of this disease.

Let’s continue to work together to ensure minimal disruption during school time and provide that safe environment our children need to thrive.

The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Senior Citizen Affairs thanks you for your continued support as we continue to keep Saint Lucia healthy and safe.