09_BT_Sept 2022

Baby & Toddler
Health & Medical Diary
In severe cases of HFMD, the child may
develop encephalitis (inflammation
of the brain) and myocarditis
(inflammation of the heart).
Quick cure?
There is no specific cure for HFMD. For
mild HFMD, treatment is prescribed
mainly to relieve the symptoms of the
condition until self-recovery. Children
who have the red flags (as described
below) will need more specific medical
care depending on the severity.
Recovery period
Most children will recover within a
week. They should remain isolated from
the school/daycare for 10 days from
the beginning of the symptoms. The
child should be fully recovered from all
symptoms prior to returning to school.
Where are children
most exposed to HFMD?
HFMD tends to cause outbreaks in
daycare centres or kindergartens
as these are places where young
children spend long hours together in
close proximity.
Could your child have
HFMD? What is your next
course of action?
First of all, ensure correct diagnosis
by bringing your kid to a health
professional. If the child is otherwise
active and drinking/eating well, he
or she can be treated at home with
fever medication and oral sprays to
soothe the ulcers. There are some oral
sprays for pain relief that are available
to reduce mouth pain and enable the
child to eat. Although the rash tends
to be harmless, occasionally creams
containing zinc oxide is used to provide
a “cooling” effect on the skin for the
child’s comfort.
Should the child develop red flag
symptoms such as fatigue, drowsiness,
refusal to drink, persistent high fever
beyond 48 hours, reduced urine, fast
breathing and fits, the child needs to
be brought immediately to a hospital
for further treatment. These children
may require intravenous (IV) fluids and
further investigation. Although most
children only have mild symptoms,
there is a severe version of HFMD
that can lead to brain and heart
inflammation; although uncommon,
these children need to be diagnosed
early and get intensive care.
CAN PREGNANT WOMEN
AND THEIR UNBORN BABIES
CONTRACT HFMD?
Pregnant women who are close to
their delivery due dates may be at risk
of passing the infection to their baby.
HFMD in a newborn can be more
severe and may even be fatal. It is best,
where possible, for pregnant women to
avoid all contact with HFMD patients.
Prevention
A diligent practice of hand hygiene
coupled with surface sanitization is the
best way to avoid HFMD. Hand hygiene
is especially important after contact
with feces (eg when changing diapers)
and after sneezing or coughing. The
use of face masks do play a role in
preventing the spread of respiratory
droplets. Also, it is best to avoid
crowded areas as much as possible.
10 BabyTalk | September 2022