365telugu.com online news,Hyderabad, August 26th,2022: We see Hand Foot and Mouth disease every year around this time. Please understand in detail about it. Nothing to panic at all.Tomato fever, Tomato flu is similar to ‘Hand Foot and Mouth Disease’ we see among children every year. There is no reason to panic! It is caused by viruses.
The symptoms show up 3 to 6 days after coming in contact with the affected child.It may start with fever, runny nose and cough which may last 1 or 2 days,and then itchy, painful blisters appear on the soles, feet, legs, buttocks, elbows,knees, palms and hands.Ulcers appear in mouth and child drools a lot because of pain and discomfort. Symptoms usually last 1 week.
It’s rare for it to cause complications like involvement of the brain and spinal cord,especially in India.It’s not dangerous exactly,but dehydration can lead to serious complications.So, it’s most crucial to focus on the hydration. It can spread when the infected child coughs or sneezes onto the other, and when a person handles the infected child’s stools,nose secretions,fluid from the blisters,and saliva.
It also spreads when a child touches the surfaces sneezed,coughed on,or handled by the infected child.Spread can be prevented by isolating the child from other children till all symptoms subside, drooling stops, all the blisters have dried up,all mouth ulcers have healed,and no new blisters or mouth ulcers are appearing.Good handwashing practices and surface cleaning practices are very important.
Treatment is symptomatic and supportive.Appropriate and judicious control of fever, judicious use of anti itching creams, tonics as per doctor’s advice, judicious use of mouth washes as per doctor’s advice, being thorough with First Aid for seizures, and very importantly ensuring good hydration is all that’s needed.
You can send your child to school only after all symptoms subside,drooling stops, all the blisters have dried up,all mouth ulcers have healed and no new blisters or mouth ulcers are appearing. Your child may still spread the disease for a few weeks through his, her secretions,and through his stools for a few months, but that need not stop you from sending your child to school. It is possible to get affected multiple times.
-Dr Sivaranjani Santosh