The Department of Health (DOH) – Central Luzon Center for Health Development (CLCHD) is urging the public to stay vigilant against the spread of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD), a highly contagious viral illness that primarily affects children but can also infect adults.
DOH CLCHD Environmental and Occupational Health Cluster Head Lian Marie Calimutan explained that HFMD is commonly caused by the Coxsackievirus A16 or Enterovirus 71, and typically runs its course in seven to ten days.
“While HFMD is common among infants and toddlers, older individuals are not immune to the disease,” Calimutan said, noting that it can spread through direct contact with infected individuals, respiratory droplets, contaminated surfaces or objects, and even infected feces.
Symptoms include fever, sore throat, loss of appetite, painful blisters, and skin rashes**, which can lead to dehydration, secondary infections, or in rare cases, cardiorespiratory failure. Severe complications may include meningitis, encephalitis, or acute flaccid paralysis.
Although there is no specific cure, patients are advised to manage symptoms using paracetamol or acetaminophen for fever, warm salt water gargles, topical ointments, and soothing foods like ice cream or popsicles, especially for children.
To prevent transmission, the public is advised to:
- Practice regular hand hygiene
- Avoid sharing personal items
- Use personal protective equipment when necessary
- Reinforce infection control measures in schools and other settings
Calimutan emphasized that HFMD is not the same as the Foot-and-Mouth Disease found in livestock like pigs or cows—a common misconception.
Parents are encouraged to inform schools or daycare centers if a child shows symptoms so that appropriate actions such as contact tracing and disinfection can be done.
“If symptoms persist beyond 10 days, seek medical attention from a higher-level health facility,” she added.
