Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=99965&cat=1
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
20 suspected HFMD cases
By Moneth Deposa
Reporter
Several clinics on Saipan have reported about 20 cases of hand-foot-mouth disease, prompting the Department of Public Health to issue an advisory yesterday, warning people to take necessary precautions to avoid getting infected.
Dr. Richard Brostrom, Medical director for the Division of Public Health, confirmed that 20 children with ages ranging from 2 to 8 years old were reported by private clinics of suspected hand-foot-mouth disease as of Friday, May 21, 2010.
Hand-foot-mouth disease is a common viral infection that usually occurs in infants and young children. Brostrom said the disease is not considered a serious illness but must still be prevented from occurring.
Saipan Tribune learned that the CNMI last recorded a ?cluster? of hand-foot-mouth disease five years ago, involving a fewer number of infections.
Brostrom said there have been no serious complications or deaths from hand-foot-mouth disease to date.
According to Brostrom, all 20 suspected cases are being managed well by their own physicians. He estimates that a child infected by the disease usually have two to seven days to recover.
He confirmed that majority of the infected children are public elementary students but he declined to name the schools.
Since the disease is commonly spread in classrooms, Brostrom is confident the number would drop because public and private schools will soon be out.
Although classified as not serious, Brostrom emphasized the need to alert parents about their children who are sick. He advised that children with the disease should be taken home for treatment.
DPH described hand-foot-mouth disease as a viral illness that begins with a fever, poor appetite, feeling unwell, and often a sore throat. After a day or two, an infected person may develop painful sores inside and around the mouth. They may also develop a non-itchy rash, mainly on the palm of the hands and the sole of the feet.
DPH said hand-foot-mouth disease is not the same disease as foot-and-mouth disease that occurs in animals.
Hand-foot-mouth disease can be spread from person-to-person by contact with infected secretions of the mouth and nose, fluid from sores or blisters, and close contact such as hugging and kissing someone with the disease.
An infected person is most contagious during the first week of the illness but may remain contagious a few weeks after they become well.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
20 suspected HFMD cases
By Moneth Deposa
Reporter
Several clinics on Saipan have reported about 20 cases of hand-foot-mouth disease, prompting the Department of Public Health to issue an advisory yesterday, warning people to take necessary precautions to avoid getting infected.
Dr. Richard Brostrom, Medical director for the Division of Public Health, confirmed that 20 children with ages ranging from 2 to 8 years old were reported by private clinics of suspected hand-foot-mouth disease as of Friday, May 21, 2010.
Hand-foot-mouth disease is a common viral infection that usually occurs in infants and young children. Brostrom said the disease is not considered a serious illness but must still be prevented from occurring.
Saipan Tribune learned that the CNMI last recorded a ?cluster? of hand-foot-mouth disease five years ago, involving a fewer number of infections.
Brostrom said there have been no serious complications or deaths from hand-foot-mouth disease to date.
According to Brostrom, all 20 suspected cases are being managed well by their own physicians. He estimates that a child infected by the disease usually have two to seven days to recover.
He confirmed that majority of the infected children are public elementary students but he declined to name the schools.
Since the disease is commonly spread in classrooms, Brostrom is confident the number would drop because public and private schools will soon be out.
Although classified as not serious, Brostrom emphasized the need to alert parents about their children who are sick. He advised that children with the disease should be taken home for treatment.
DPH described hand-foot-mouth disease as a viral illness that begins with a fever, poor appetite, feeling unwell, and often a sore throat. After a day or two, an infected person may develop painful sores inside and around the mouth. They may also develop a non-itchy rash, mainly on the palm of the hands and the sole of the feet.
DPH said hand-foot-mouth disease is not the same disease as foot-and-mouth disease that occurs in animals.
Hand-foot-mouth disease can be spread from person-to-person by contact with infected secretions of the mouth and nose, fluid from sores or blisters, and close contact such as hugging and kissing someone with the disease.
An infected person is most contagious during the first week of the illness but may remain contagious a few weeks after they become well.