Family Matters
PARENTS play a vital role in helping to contain the spread of HFMD.

In response to queries from The New Paper on Sunday, Ms Melissa Anne Manuel, senior corporate communications executive at the Health Promotion Board (HPB) said: “We can never stress enough that parents should check their kids for any symptoms of HFMD before sending their children to childcare centres or  kindergartens.”

According to Dr Sonal Singhal from the youth health division at HPB, a child with HFMD may suffer from some of the following symptoms:
- Fever for two to three days

- Sore throat and runny nose

- Ulcers in the throat, mouth and tongue

- Rash with vesicles (small blisters measuring 3 to 7mm) on hands, feet and diaper area. The vesicles are typically on the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet and are very characteristic in appearance. The rash may also be present on the buttocks, arms and legs.

- Loss of appetite and irritability

- Vomiting and/or diarrhoea

More information and resources about HFMD can be found on the HPB website at www.hpb.gov.sg/infectiousdiseases.

How to prevent the spread

1) Cover the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throw the tissue away into a bin immediately.

2) Wash hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water in between activities and before meals.

3) Consult your family doctor if your child shows any signs or symptoms of HFMD.

4) Keep the affected child’s toys, books, eating utensils, towels and clothes separate from others.

5) Keep sick children away from public places such as schools, playgrounds, shopping centres and food outlets.

6) If only one of your children is sick, monitor the others closely and practise the steps above.

7) Keep the house clean and sanitise toys on a regular basis.