Beware of Singapore Flu (HFMD) in Children!

Singapore Flu or also known as HFMD or Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease is an infectious disease that generally occurs in children aged 5-10 years. However, this disease is more likely to attack children under 5 years of age. Singapore flu is a viral disease caused by several types of Coxsackie viruses, especially the Coxsackie A16 virus.

The virus that causes this disease will live in the toddler's digestive tract and spread from person to person. This virus can be transmitted through dirty hands and surfaces contaminated with saliva, feces, fluid from skin rashes, or respiratory secretions (coughing or sneezing) from an infected person. This disease is classified as not dangerous, but patients still need treatment so that the virus disappears. This disease usually attacks for 7 to 10 days. Treating Singapore flu in the right way is mandatory, because if not, there are concerns that complications such as meningitis, polio and even death will occur. A person can contract this disease in the following ways:

1. Share eating or drinking utensils with sufferers
2. Accidentally inhaling saliva splashes when the sufferer sneezes or coughs
3. Touching the eyes, nose or mouth without washing your hands first after touching the patient's feces (for example when changing a baby's diaper)
4. Touching objects contaminated with the virus, then touching your eyes, nose, or putting your fingers in your mouth without washing your hands first

Singapore Flu Symptoms

When infected with the virus that causes Singapore flu, the patient first experiences an incubation period for the Singapore flu virus, namely 3-6 days. After that, other symptoms will appear such as:

• Fever.
• Sore throat.
• Loss of appetite.
• Painful canker sores appear on the tongue, gums and inside of the cheeks.
• A red rash that sometimes blisters and contains fluid on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and buttocks.
• Babies and toddlers will be fussy.
• Abdominal pain.
• Cough.

Generally, Singapore flu begins with a fever. After that, about a day or two, canker sores or sores appear around the gums, tongue and inner cheeks. This condition can make Singapore flu sufferers uncomfortable when drinking, eating or swallowing. One to two days later, a rash appears on the palms of the hands and feet, and sometimes on the buttocks.

How to Prevent Singapore Flu

The following steps can be used to prevent infection with the Singapore flu virus:

Washing Hands: Children and adults should wash their hands regularly with soap and running water.
Avoid Close Contact: Avoid close contact with infected individuals, especially if they have symptoms.
Good Sanitation: Make sure toys and frequently touched surfaces in the home and children's play areas are kept clean.
Maintain Oral Hygiene: Children should be taught to maintain oral hygiene, such as brushing their teeth regularly.

In an effort to prevent the spread of Singapore flu, it is important to implement proper preventive measures and educate children about personal hygiene. With these steps, we can help keep children healthy and prevent the spread of this disease in the community. Consult a pediatrician at RSU Hermina Pandanaran.

Reference:
Selner, M. Healthline (2022). What Is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)?
WebMD (2022). Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD).