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CCNTV6
  • 9 months ago
There have been reports of the Hand, Foot and Mouth disease in Tobago.

Our reporter Sharla Kistow did a telephone interview with Dr Vinash Deyalsingh, a Family Physician, who explains the Do's and Don'ts for parents whose child may have contracted the disease.

Here's more in this report.
Transcript
00:00Hand, foot and mouth disease is a very contagious illness caused by the Coxsackie virus.
00:06The disease gets its name from blister-like rash that forms on a child's hands and feet
00:10and painful sores that develop in their mouth.
00:13The disease mainly affects children between the ages of two to seven years.
00:17Dr. Vinash D. El-Singh, a family physician, says the disease can be easily spread.
00:22By direct contact with saliva, mucous or fluid from the blisters of an infected person could
00:28also be spread from touching contaminated surfaces, objects such as toys, doorknobs
00:33or floor sets.
00:35It could also be spread through stool, as well as respiratory droplets from sneezing
00:39or coughing.
00:40Hand, foot and mouth disease usually appears in two stages.
00:45So when the illness starts, your child may have these symptoms.
00:49Symptoms typically appear from three to seven days after exposure.
00:53Typically, the patient will notice painful sores in the mouth, as well as red spots in
01:00the hands, the feet.
01:01Sometimes they may also get sores on the buttocks.
01:04The patient may experience fever, loss of appetite, sore throat, and due to the loss
01:10of appetite, they may get dehydrated.
01:13At times, the blisters may be painful and that prevents the patient from actually wanting
01:18to swallow or rehydrate themselves.
01:20The symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease usually clears up within seven to ten days.
01:26However, the doctor warns that no one is safe as adults can contract the disease as well.
01:31Although not as common, adults can in fact get the hand, foot and mouth disease.
01:38Usually some things that generally prevent that from happening would be to ensure regular
01:43hand washing.
01:44You want to disinfect toys, bathrooms and other objects with soap and disinfectant.
01:49You also want to avoid sharing any eaten utensils, cups, towels, and also avoid any contact with
01:57infected children.
01:58In some cases, however, children may be asymptomatic, but they may be carriers and in those cases
02:03you can still get it from someone without them showing the signs or symptoms of the disease.
02:07And as the carnival Monday and Tuesday are quickly approaching, Dr. D.L. Singh has this
02:13advice for all the soon-to-be revelers.
02:16Some ways people could do to prevent contracting the hand, foot and mouth disease would be
02:21regular hand washing, avoid handshaking, avoid contact with too many people, especially if
02:27they have the hand, foot and mouth disease, and also wearing face masks could help because
02:33it is known to be spread by droplets as well.
02:36Dr. D.L. Singh tells parents don't panic if their child gets the hand, foot and mouth
02:41disease.
02:42Instead, he says, take your child to the nearest hospital for treatment.
02:46Charlotte Kisto, TV6 News.
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