What is hand, foot and mouth disease?
Hand, foot and mouth disease is an infectious illness caused by a virus, usually the enterovirus 71 or the coxsackievirus A16.
What is currently happening in Southeast Asia?
In Southeast Asia (Singapore, China and Vietnam) there currently seems to be an increase in the number of infections caused by the enterovirus 71 (hand, foot and mouth disease). A great deal of people have been infected, and of these a few thousand people, spread across these three countries, have contracted hand, foot and mouth disease. Newborn babies and young children are mainly the ones who have become ill, with a number of children having developed serious complaints such as meningitis. Large-scale epidemics occur quite frequently in Southeast Asia.
I am going to Southeast Asia on holiday. What should I do?
Rest assured that you can proceed with your holiday to Southeast Asia. Hand, foot and mouth disease is quite prevalent amongst children, and it usually runs its course in a very mild form. People who are travelling to regions where hand, foot and mouth disease is endemic are strongly advised to follow a strict coughing and toilet-hygiene regime. Wash your hands regularly and, at the very least, every time you go to the toilet.
What are the symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease?
In most cases the illness will pass with just mild complaints or none at all. If there are any complaints, these will manifest themselves in the form of small (2-5mm) blisters around the mouth, which burst quite easily, leaving small, superficial lesions of the mucous membrane. In the mouth these often look like ulcers. They are often painful and when there are a lot of them they make it difficult to eat and drink. Shortly after these blisters appear in the mouth, small blisters will be found on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet (the number can vary greatly from 5 to more than 100). They will start off as small red spots, which then develop into small blisters surrounded by a red circle. The blisters are often painful. If they burst, by scratching or picking for example, they can soon turn into sores as a result of bacteriological infections, which can them permeate the skin easier.
How common is hand, foot and mouth disease?
In Western Europe it is usually a relatively harmless and mild illness, which every now and again develops into a minor epidemic, affecting mostly small children. This illness occurs quite regularly in the Netherlands. However, such epidemics are often on a much larger scale in Asia, where the type of virus that causes the illness is different to the virus that causes it in the Netherlands. There are reasons to believe that the illness often has more serious repercussions in Asia, and the larger the number of infected people, the greater the likelihood that the symptoms will be more serious.
How long does it take before the disease manifests itself?
The time between being infected and developing the illness (the incubation period) is usually between three and five days.
How can you become exposed to hand, foot and mouth disease?
Hand, foot and mouth disease is caused by a virus and is extremely contagious. Infection occurs mainly from moisture from the blisters, which are full of the virus. Infection can take place through contact with contaminated objects, such as toys. It can also be relayed through the air, via coughing, for example.
The virus is also present in the excrement of infected persons. Extra hygiene when visiting the toilet is therefore imperative: the toilet seat, flushing handle and other objects could be contaminated. Contact with these objects can transfer the virus to your hands and then from your hands to your mouth. This is why it is essential to wash your hands regularly and thoroughly.
Can people give the illness to one another?
Yes, the illness can be transferred from one person to another. A person can carry the virus for between three and seven days before complaints become evident, and even at this early stage the virus can be transferred from an infected person to other people. The virus can also be passed on for a time after the infected person has recovered. Above all, you can carry the virus and pass it on to others without actually being ill yourself.
Who can contract hand, foot and mouth disease, and what kind of people are at greater risk?
Young children in particular (up to the age of ten) are susceptible to the development of hand, foot and mouth disease. It is a complaint that regularly causes minor epidemics. In the Netherlands and Belgium outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease primarily occur in the late summer and autumn. Newborn babies are more vulnerable to the serious repercussions of the illness. Furthermore, people who work with children also run an above-average risk.
How can I avoid contracting hand, foot and mouth disease?
There is no vaccine against hand, foot and mouth disease and there is no medication that will prevent you from catching it. Adopting a strict coughing and toilet-hygiene regime can help you avoid exposing yourself to hand, foot and mouth disease. Washing your hands regularly and thoroughly is very important.
Can hand, foot and mouth disease be treated?
If you have many painful sores in your mouth, your doctor can sometimes prescribe the use of a soothing ointment. In rare cases the virus that causes hand, foot and mouth disease can also result in serious neurological complaints. However, in most cases of hand, foot and mouth disease all the blisters will clear up, without scarring, after a week.
Can someone with hand, foot and mouth disease go to the childcare centre, school or to work?
Someone with hand, foot and mouth disease, who feels well, can, without any problem, go to the childcare centre, school or to work. Hand, foot and mouth disease is contagious before any complaints manifest themselves. You can also become infected without actually developing the illness. Keeping home children with blisters on their hands, feet and/or mouths will not help to contain the spread of the illness. However, because it pertains to a contagious disease you should inform the supervisor, who can then inform other parents. They can then keep an eye on their children for the symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease.
Is hand, foot and mouth disease the same as foot (hoof) and mouth disease?
No, it is not the same. Foot and mouth disease only affects livestock and it is caused by a different virus.
SOURCE : Centrum Infectieziektenbestrijding (Centre for combating infectious diseases)
