HFMD outbreak (Hand Foot Mouth Disease)

Recently, Straits Times reported that HFMD incidences are peaking again :(
Parents whose kids are in childcare center will be praying hard for their kids to stay healthy.

We do not know when our child will be infected !
..and we can only hope for all parties ( teachers, parents and kids) to practice good hygiene routine.

From personal experience, it is very demoralising to bring your kids daily to school, and discover another classmate down with illness, one more added to infection statistic.
(16 cases and MOH will force school to close).



Traditionally, HFMD used to breakout after kids return from their holidays, but this time round, the disease has decided to pop up earlier. We blogged about the “bochap” and “selfish” parents back in 2010
Read --> http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2010/08/hand-foot-mouth-disease-hfmd-go-away.html

If you see parents bringing their sick kids to school, sound the Alarm, tell the parents off, or at the very least, escalate to the teachers and principal.
Teachers are the gatekeepers, but we understand some parents are very inconsiderate (不自动).
Just because they cannot take leave, they will bring their sick child to school, maybe infecting the other kids !

Teachers can highlight importance of hygiene, and reinforce good hygiene practices by asking kids to wash their hands regularly (and sanitizing).

..but we just need one irresponsible parent to bring a sick child to school..
.. and the rest is history...


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It sucks, when you are a responsible parent, but is indirectly affected because of some selfish parents.
For parents with more than one kid, the family now risk having another innocent child affected !!

Extracted from --> http://www.hpb.gov.sg/health_articles/hfmd,
do not bring your kids to school if they exhibit the following symptoms :

· fever
· sore throat
· ulcers in the throat, mouth and tongue
· headache
· a rash with vesicles (small blisters, 3-7 mm) on hands, feet and diaper area. The vesicles are typically on the palm side of the hands the sole side of the feet and very characteristic in appearance
· loss of appetite

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More information can be found at MOH website too
http://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/diseases_and_conditions/h/hand_foot_mouth_disease.html


Take care.

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Hand Foot Mouth Disease (HFMD) - Go Away !

HFMD, together with Chicken Pox and H1N1, always send shivers down every parents!
When there is an outbreak, everybody tense up.
We read about increasing cases, new HFMD records, and you start thinking about the "WILL.." and the "WHEN..."!!


In the event of an outbreak, teachers and parents must work together to clamp down, and break the germ's cycle. Looking at the pictures below , maybe we can guess why this disease is called HFMD?

However, Daddy suspect the weakest link is always We parents.
..complacent, ignorant or even bochap (nonchalant).

Some misconception about HFMD
- I got it before, so there will be resistance
- adult cannot get it, or transmits the germs to children
- if my kids do not attend childcare, we are safe ( parents forget common playgrounds)

Please visit these sites for the facts and latest updates :
http://hpb.gov.sg/
http://moh.gov.sg/

Yet when we ask the parents, everybody know about HFMD's symptoms!
..yes, the usual fevers, rashes, blisters, ulcers.
Hey, we even know how the germs are tranmitted via fluids, and close contacts!!

..but Parents fail to follow up with medical consultation, when they suspect their kid is unwell. They will risk putting their sick child in childcare,
potentially triggering a second wave of HFMD cycles!

Personal hygiene should be practised, with or without any disease outbreaks.
Video : wash our hands (thoroughly)


Do we really need our kids to teach us about basic hygiene?
Read how Learning-Vision and Singapore-OK 洗洗手.
http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2009/06/singapore-ok-wei-on-tv8-as-hygiene.html

Boys.Girl, go and wash your hands now !!

Credit..images above are taken from hpb.gov.sg

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