The Basics on Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

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Nowadays whenever we think of schools shutting down or kids being asked to stay home our first thought always jumps to Covid. But it's not just Covid that'll put a pause on normal life in Beijing. The later summer/early autumn months are prime for hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFM).

Hospitals in Beijing will recommend babies get vaccinated against HFM but this vaccination is optional. According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the P. R. of China (NHFPC), HFM is most contagious for kids under the age of 5 but it doesn't mean that kids older than 5 can't get infected.

Recently Siyu He, a mom of twin boys, recently found herself in a difficult situation. "The kindergarten informed me that someone in their class got it on Thursday. So all classes were stopped," she tells Jingkids. "Then one of my kids started to feel pain in his mouth on Saturday, and I found little red spots like a rash on his hands and feet yesterday."

Currently, Siyu is home where one of her twins has HFM and the other does not. "I'm running after him all day long wiping everything he's touched so his brother doesn't get it".

Both her sons had already received the HFM vaccination but it's still possible for kids to contract the disease.

This season, when heading back to school, be mindful of all the other contagious diseases and keep disinfectants handy in your kids' bag.

Also keep your kids safe by following these recommendations by the CDC:

Always wash your hands for at least 2 minutes with warm water and soap after using the toilet

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and shared items including toys and door knobs

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth as much as possible after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, and before and after caring for someone who is sick

Symptoms for HFM include a sore throat, fever, loss of appetite, painful, blister-like lesions on the tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks, rash on the palms, soles, and sometimes the butt. The rash may not be itchy, and sometimes blisters will appear. Depending on skin tone, the rash may appear red, white, gray, or only show as tiny bumps. In infants and toddlers, one of the first signs of HFM can be fussiness.

When should you consult a doctor?

HFM disease is usually a minor illness. It typically only causes fever and mild symptoms for a few days. According to the Mayo Clinic, consult your pediatrician immediately if your child is younger than six months, has a weakened immune system, or has mouth sores or a sore throat that makes it painful to drink fluids. Visit a fever hospital immediately if your child has a fever or if their health condition doesn't improve after 10 days.

Images: Siyu He, Pexels

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