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Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/centralcoast/ci_10889466
Doctor's report: Unusual viral infections spreading among Santa Cruz County preschoolers
By Jondi Gumz - Sentinel staff writer
Article Launched: 11/03/2008 04:35:42 PM PST
Dr. Arthur Dover reports an outbreak of two viral infections that have parents of preschoolers concerned.
The outbreak hasn't abated since it began two months ago, said Dover, a Watsonville pediatrician who has seen a half-dozen cases each of hand-foot-and-mouth disease and herpangina.
Both are common childhood illnesses caused by the Coxsackie virus; however, the virus is not very common locally.
Both illnesses are spread by contamination with feces hand-foot-and-mouth can be spread by saliva and shared food and objects.
"Anyone can become infected with these viruses, but I am seeing it almost exclusively in children who attend day care or preschool," Dover said, advising parents and day care providers to wash their hands, especially if they are changing diapers, to prevent spreading the illness.
He attributed the increase of cases to more people susceptible to the virus.
Fever is one of the symptoms.
That worries parents, Dover said, because children attending day care are sent home if they have a fever and they generally can't return unless they have seen a doctor.
Other symptoms of herpangina include: Fussy behavior and a diminished appetite, headache and backache, and red throats with small blisters or ulcers. The symptoms last from three to six days.
With hand-foot-and-mouth syndrome, small blisters appear inside on the palms, the mouth, soles, and perhaps on the buttocks. The blisters usually subside after a week.
These viral infections, while distressing to the child and parents, are usually mild, Dover said. No specific medication is recommended for either infection, he said.
He advises a bland diet and treating pain and fever with an over-the-counter remedy, but not aspirin, which has been linked to Reyes' syndrome.
For information call Dr. Arthur Dover at 722-2806.
Contact Jondi Gumz at 706-3253 or jgumz@santacruzsentinel.com
Doctor's report: Unusual viral infections spreading among Santa Cruz County preschoolers
By Jondi Gumz - Sentinel staff writer
Article Launched: 11/03/2008 04:35:42 PM PST
Dr. Arthur Dover reports an outbreak of two viral infections that have parents of preschoolers concerned.
The outbreak hasn't abated since it began two months ago, said Dover, a Watsonville pediatrician who has seen a half-dozen cases each of hand-foot-and-mouth disease and herpangina.
Both are common childhood illnesses caused by the Coxsackie virus; however, the virus is not very common locally.
Both illnesses are spread by contamination with feces hand-foot-and-mouth can be spread by saliva and shared food and objects.
"Anyone can become infected with these viruses, but I am seeing it almost exclusively in children who attend day care or preschool," Dover said, advising parents and day care providers to wash their hands, especially if they are changing diapers, to prevent spreading the illness.
He attributed the increase of cases to more people susceptible to the virus.
Fever is one of the symptoms.
That worries parents, Dover said, because children attending day care are sent home if they have a fever and they generally can't return unless they have seen a doctor.
Other symptoms of herpangina include: Fussy behavior and a diminished appetite, headache and backache, and red throats with small blisters or ulcers. The symptoms last from three to six days.
With hand-foot-and-mouth syndrome, small blisters appear inside on the palms, the mouth, soles, and perhaps on the buttocks. The blisters usually subside after a week.
These viral infections, while distressing to the child and parents, are usually mild, Dover said. No specific medication is recommended for either infection, he said.
He advises a bland diet and treating pain and fever with an over-the-counter remedy, but not aspirin, which has been linked to Reyes' syndrome.
For information call Dr. Arthur Dover at 722-2806.
Contact Jondi Gumz at 706-3253 or jgumz@santacruzsentinel.com