The facts about Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is caused by pathogens of the enterovirus genus such as EV71 or Coxsackie virus A16. The disease is characterized by fever, small blisters in the mouth, and a rash with blisters. HFMD begins with a mild fever, poor appetite, malaise ("feeling sick"), and frequently a sore throat. One or two days after the fever begins, painful blisters develop in the mouth. The blisters begin as small red spots, developing into a pustule that can often ulcerate. The skin rash develops over 1 to 2 days with flat or raised red spots, some with blisters. The rash does not itch, and it is usually located on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It may also appear on the buttocks. The disease can infect any age group, but is rare in children over the age of 10, with the most susceptible children being less than 5 years old.

HFMD is generally a mild disease and nearly all patients recover without medical treatment within 7 to 10 days. On a rare occasion, a patient with HFMD may also develop "aseptic" or viral meningitis, in which the individual has a fever, headache, stiff neck, or back pain, and may need to be hospitalized for a few days. Infections with EV71 in particular may also cause viral meningitis or even more serious diseases, such as encephalitis, interstitial pneumonitis or a poliomyelitis-like paralysis. EV71 encephalitis can be fatal. Severe oral ulcerations can create painful stomatitis that interfere with oral intake and cause dehydration. This is often the reason for hospitalization in cases of non-severe form of HFMD.

HFMD is endemic in Asia Pacific and the incidence of HFMD in this region has been increasing steadily over the past few years. Most Asian countries have reported significant HFMD epidemics with recent notable reports coming from China. The Chinese Ministry of Health reported that there were over 787,000 cases of HFMD with 10,639 severe cases and 259 fatalities from January to July 2009. These data were further updated and according to Chinese CDC, from March to September of 2009 more than 962,000 cases of HFMD were reported, resulting in 314 deaths.

More HFMD Facts

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/hfhf.htm

Singapore Ministry of Health:
http://http://www.moh.gov.sg/mohcorp/diseases.aspx?id=418