IT IS the season of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and the situation in  Singapore is not a pretty picture.

According to the Ministry of Health, as of last week, there were 1,261 reported  cases of HFMD, bringing the total number so far this year to about 20,200. That is almost double the number of about 11,000 cases during the same period last  ear.

Mr Colin Smith understands the frightening figures very well as his household has  been plagued by the infectious disease.

The 43-year-old father of two young boys succumbed to HFMD two years ago and  infected his elder son St John, then 5. 

“I felt so sorry for him. He had a lot of ulcers and it hurt whenever he tried to eat,”  Mr Smith recounted to The New Paper on Sunday.

“It was a mistake on my part. At that time, I didn’t know that adults could get  HFMD. I always thought it’s something that affects only young children.”

Unthinkable
Then the unthinkable happened.

Mr Smith was again diagnosed with HFMD a few months ago.

Said Mr Smith, who runs a production company that does corporate videos and  television commercials: “This time, I contracted the disease from one of the  talent’s children during a location shoot.”

Also coping with the outbreak is local  actor Darren Lim, 38. His second son Jairus,  3, contracted HFMD last Sunday and subsequently infected his siblings, Kristen, 5, and Way, 1.

Thankfully, Lim said his children’s symptoms were very mild so he didn’t take  them to the clinic.

He added that his kids don’t seem bothered by it, and have been more than  happy “to stay at home and watch TV or play with the iPad than to go to school”.

Lim, who is married to actress Evelyn Tan, added that some kids in Kristen and  Jairus’ school were also down with HFMD.

Both families say their experiences with HFMD has made them pay more attention  to hygiene and make sure they set a good example for their young ones.

Said Lim: “We have been more diligent in taking our vitamins. We also try to have less physical contact with them, which means fewer hugs and kisses until they are well.

“To us, HFMD is seasonal like the flu. Children can catch it anywhere. We just need to reinforce the importance of good hygiene habits.”

For the Smiths, eating fruits after dinner is now a must.

Said Mr Smith: “We believe in getting all our vitamins from food. We don’t use  sanitisers. We just wash our hands before we eat.”

But they know that sometimes, it all boils down to luck and no amount of care can  keep the disease at bay.

The Smiths had erred on the side of caution and kept their younger son Randolph,  ged 20 months, at home last week as “there were a couple of cases at
his childcare centre”.

Ironically, when the Smiths took Randolph to his childcare centre on Friday, they  were asked to take him home.

He had caught HFMD. Said Mr Smith: “They found spots on his arms, stomach,  hands and on the soles of his feet as well.

“What can we do? It’s just what it is.”

This article was first published in The New Paper.