Hand, foot & mouth disease - Brunei - Death

[Sally Furniss]

First HFMD Death In Brunei <!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--> <!--fonto:Verdana--><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:2--><!--/sizeo-->
By Azlan Othman & Lyna Mohammed <!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->


Bandar Seri Begawan ? <!--colorc--><!--/colorc-->Brunei recorded its first hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) casualty with the death of a two-year-old boy yesterday.<!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->

<!--fonto:Verdana--><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:2--><!--/sizeo-->The Ministry of Health said 16 mild cases have also been detected. The disclosure comes in the wake of a similar outbreak in Sarawak, Malaysia where four children have died.<!--sizec--> <!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--> <!--fonto:Verdana--><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:2--><!--/sizeo-->"All the 16 cases are mild and they are improving after receiving treatment," said Datin Paduka Dr. Lim Meng Keang, Specialist Paediatrician at the Department of Paediatrics of RIPAS hospital in a media briefing yesterday.<!--sizec--> <!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->

<!--fonto:Verdana--><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:2--><!--/sizeo-->"We have received inquiries from members of the public concerning this disease. A more serious case was detected in Brunei and a two-year-old boy died of HFMD yesterday. The case was detected in Brunei-Muara District. However, the public should not panic," Dr. Meng Keang said.<!--sizec--> <!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->

<!--fonto:Verdana--><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:2--><!--/sizeo-->Asked on the last case that was detected in Brunei, Dr. Meng Keang said it occurred back in February, but in small numbers. Two to three cases were detected. It is a common infection among children aged below five years; old, he said.<!--sizec--> <!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--><!--fonto:Verdana--><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:2--><!--/sizeo-->The disease is caused by enterovirus. It is a common infection but complications can cause death. <!--sizec--><!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc--> <!--fonto:Verdana--><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:2--><!--/sizeo-->Signs include red spots on the palm, leg surface and blisters in the mouth and tongue. It really hurts the tongue and those afflicted will experience discomfort when swallowing food or drinking fluids.<!--sizec--> <!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->

<!--fonto:Verdana--><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:2--><!--/sizeo-->Parent have been advised to consult a doctor if their child has any of the following conditions like persistent high fever, repeated vomiting and poor appetite, extreme tiredness and sleepiness, irritability, abdominal distension, urine retention, shortness of breath, fast heart beat or pulse (of more than 160 per minute), unsteady gait or limb weakness, muscle jerks, abnormal eye movement and cold sweating.<!--sizec--> <!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->

<!--fonto:Verdana--><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:2--><!--/sizeo-->The disease spreads through direct contact via patient's mucus, fluid from running nose, saliva, and liquid from blisters and patient stools.<!--sizec--> <!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->

<!--fonto:Verdana--><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:2--><!--/sizeo-->There's no specific treatment for the disease. The treatment given is to decrease the intensity of the symptoms.<!--sizec--> <!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->

<!--fonto:Verdana--><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:2--><!--/sizeo-->The public, especially parents and those at childcare centres, are advised to take precautionary steps. Personal hygiene is most important in avoiding contracting and transmitting enterovirus infection.<!--sizec--> <!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->

<!--fonto:Verdana--><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:2--><!--/sizeo-->These include washing hands thoroughly before eating, after going to the toilet or handling nappy/excreta, covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, cleaning thoroughly surfaces of toys and other appliances and maintaining cleanliness among children especially those aged below five years old. Infected children should stay away from public places like schools and childcare centres. Parents should not bring their children to the affected areas.<!--sizec--> <!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->

<!--fonto:Verdana--><!--/fonto--><!--sizeo:2--><!--/sizeo--><!--sizec-->Should parents come across these symptoms in their children, they should bring them to the nearest hospital or go to emergency wards in the four districts after office hours. <!--/sizec--><!--fontc--><!--/fontc-->

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Death: Hand Foot and Mouth.

What is hand, foot, and mouth disease?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common illness of infants and children. It is characterized by fever, sores 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 2 days after the fever begins, painful sores develop in the mouth. They begin as small red spots that blister and then often become ulcers. They are usually located on the tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks. 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. A person with HFMD may have only the rash or the mouth ulcers.

Is HFMD serious?
Usually not. HFMD caused by coxsackievirus A16 infection is a mild disease and nearly all patients recover without medical treatment in 7 to 10 days. Complications are uncommon. Rarely, the patient with coxsackievirus A16 infection may also develop "aseptic" or viral meningitis, in which the person has fever, headache, stiff neck, or back pain, and may need to be hospitalized for a few days. Another cause of HFMD, EV71 may also cause viral meningitis and, rarely, more serious diseases, such as encephalitis, or a poliomyelitis-like paralysis. EV71 encephalitis may be fatal. Cases of fatal encephalitis occurred during outbreaks of HFMD in Malaysia in 1997 and in Taiwan in 1998.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/hfhf.htm

[eladdie]

Re: Death: Hand Foot and Mouth.

Just about ready to post this too.

hfmd isn't usually fatal.

unless it is something else.

[eladdie]

Re: Death: Hand Foot and Mouth.

Malaysia outbreak

March 07, 2006 19:13 PM E-mail this news to a friend Printable version of this news

Sarawak Primary Schools May Be Closed To Stem HFM Spread

MIRI, March 7 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry is closely monitoring an outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth (HFM) disease in Sarawak and may close primary schools if necessary following the shutdown of kindergartens in the state last week.

Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the guidelines on preventing an epidemic were clear and that all parties should comply with them.

"If more than two children in a kindergarten are infected, it will automatically be closed to prevent transmission of the disease," he told reporters after a briefing on the HFM surveillance programme at the Miri General Hospital, Tuesday.

On the possibility of closing primary schools to stem the spread of HFM in Sarawak, Dr Chua said: "We have not taken a final decision yet."

State Health Director Dr Yao Sik King, who also attended the briefing, said that until Monday, HFM had been identified as the cause of four deaths in children aged four years and below and that between 150 and 200 new suspected cases were being reported each day.

So far, 3,087 cases had been reported in the state, mostly in the Sibu, Kuching, Miri and Bintulu divisions.

Asked if HFM could also infect children aged 10 and above, Dr Chua said: "It usually attacks children 10 and below. Those older can still be infected but not so seriously."

A local newspaper has reported that three teenagers aged 13, 14, and 17 were warded in Sibu Hospital since Sunday with symptoms of HFM including fever and rashes on the hands and feet.

Dr Chua, who could not confirm if the three had HFM, said the Health Department was monitoring the case.

Asked about some kindergarten operators disregarding the shutdown order, he said the authorities could revoke their licences or charge them in court with the penalty being a fine or jail term of up to two years.

On Friday, the ministry ordered 488 kindergartens in Sarawak to be closed for two weeks following an increase in the cases of HFM among children.

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=184336