Rise In Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease (HFMD) In Delhi: Doctors Advise To Be Vigilant (Photo @Pixabay)
As the monsoon enters its peak in India, contagious diseases are also on the rise. The season has brought Delhi to the highly communicable hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) – a viral illness. The infection is spreading among young children, with around four to five cases every day in the national capital.
According to Dr Krishan Chugh, Principal Director and HOD, Paediatrics, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, the number of cases being reported is much higher than the average cases the region used to witness. “Cases are particularly seen among children aged 1-7,” news agency IANS quoted the doctor. He also called out parents and caregivers to be vigilant, asking them to be aware of the symptoms such as fever, mouth sores or blisters, and a rash on the hands and feet.
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HFMD is a viral disease caused by viruses from the enterovirus genus, most commonly the coxsackievirus. The infection is characterised by a combination of symptoms including fever, sore throat, mouth sores, and a rash on the hands and feet. There can be visible and painful blisters or sores in the mouth, on the palms of the hands, and soles of the feet.
The infection mainly affects infants and young children, and can spread from person to person through direct contact with unwashed hands or contaminated surfaces. The disease is also transmitted through a person’s saliva, stool, or respiratory secretions. The character of being highly contagious makes the disease easy to spread among children, especially in daycares and schools.
The monsoon with humid weather is a fertile ground for such infections to thrive. The infection reaches its peak during the rainy season. It is reported that there have been reports from Kerala of an epidemic recorded as tomato fever, but doctors note that it is a misleading term and is actually a hand, foot and mouth disease.
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Though HFMD is a mild condition that goes away on its own within several days, the disease can lead to more severe complications such as viral meningitis or encephalitis in some cases, particularly with Enterovirus 71.
