Reported cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) at a Durban school are no cause for panic.
University of KwaZulu-Natal pulmonology and critical care professor Rubeshan Perumal told TimesLIVE Premium periodic outbreaks of HFMD are common, especially in day care facilities and primary schools.
“There is [at present] no need for concern,” he said.
Lenham Primary School in Phoenix, north of Durban, alerted parents on Friday about two confirmed cases.
The school advised parents to keep symptomatic children at home for seven to 10 days and assured that classrooms were being sanitised.
Unconfirmed reports of seven cases from grade R to grade 2 caused widespread panic on social media.
The school referred TimesLIVE Premium to the provincial department of education, which did not respond.
Perumal explained HFMD is a common condition caused by several viruses, most often Enterovirus and Coxsackie A virus.
“This disease is not the same as foot and mouth disease, which occurs in cattle and cloven-hoofed animals. HFMD disease presents as a mild febrile illness with a characteristic itchy and sometimes painful rash on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and buttocks.
“There are often also blisters and ulcers in and around the mouth. The condition mainly affects young children [under five] is very contagious and can be spread by physical contact or coughing. It can sometimes be spread by contact with the mucus or stool of an infected person after touching a contaminated surface and then touching one’s nose, mouth or eyes,” he said.
He said the condition was usually self-limiting.
“It goes away on its own and no specific treatments are required other than symptomatic treatment for fever, itching and pain. The spread of HFMD can be prevented by frequent handwashing, disinfection of frequently touched surfaces and staying away from work or school until the blisters have healed and the fever has settled.
“He said it was very rare for the condition to result in serious illness.
“But medical care should be sought for very high fever or children who experience confusion, excessive tiredness, seizures or dehydration,” said Perumal.
The provincial department of health was unavailable to respond.
According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, foot and mouth disease is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock that affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed animals.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.