Gaurav Kanthwal
Mohali, July 25
More than six cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) have surfaced in a private school at Phase 7, Mohali. The Health Department has issued an advisory to the schools of the district to watch out for cases of blisters, rashes, peeling on palms, soles on feet, fingers and toes among kids and send them home.
The department has also asked the school authorities to post social media messages in the parents’ group asking them not to send their wards to the school if they found any such symptoms in their child.
The Mohali Civil Surgeon, Adarshpal Kaur, said, “Four cases of hand, foot and mouth disease were reported from a school earlier. Today also, some cases were found. More reports are yet to come. We have asked the teachers to look out for symptoms in children and not to allow them to come to school till they are cured of the disease.”
The contagious disease is common among children and causes sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. It can spread by direct contact with saliva or mucus (fluid from blisters), and spreads easily.
Symptoms
Blisters, rashes, peeling on palms, soles on feet, fingers and toes
Parents need not panic: Doctors
Doctors said it was a self-limiting virus and the disease was treated in a week or 10 days. Parents need not panic and should consult a doctor.