UAE-based Pakistani expat: 'My child's nails fell out'
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease is a common, contagious virus that affects kids the most
He wailed at the top of his lungs, causing his mum to recoil in shock. As his face contorted with pain, Indian expat Farheen Hussain wiped the cream from her trembling hands and moved a tentative palm towards her then five-year-old son, Shaikh Sadid Hossain. “I saw some spots on his feet and hands, and I thought it might be measles but it wasn’t that.”
Baffled, she took him to a doctor who explained that what he was suffering from was a common viral infection called hand, foot and mouth disease. US-based Mayo Clinic explains that contagion is characterised by sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet.
The World Health Organisation explains in its report, ‘A Guide to Clinical Management and Public Health Response for Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease’, that the disease is caused by a group of enteroviruses, including Coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) and Enterovirus 71 (EV71). Infection with EV71 is of particular concern as it can cause severe disease in children, sometimes resulting in death.
The symptoms of the virus include:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Painful, red, blister-like lesions on the tongue, gums and inside of the cheeks
- A red rash, without itching but sometimes with blistering, on the palms, soles and sometimes the buttocks
- Irritability in infants and toddlers
- Loss of appetite
It was this last symptom, a loss of appetite, which bothered mum-of-two Samia Asif the most. Both her children when infected had stopped eating anything. “The kids weren’t eating anything perhaps because of the blisters in the mouth,” the Pakistani expat tells Gulf News in an interview. They had a runny nose, fever and blisters on their palms and feet and mouth.
Unfortunately, as doctors explained to both sets of parents, there is no inoculation against or medication to be had – there is only management of symptoms and letting the virus run its course. “The doctor said there’s no medicine for it, only vitamins for improving recovery,” explains Asif.
What’s the incubation period for hand, foot and mouth disease?
Mayo Clinic says: “The usual period from initial infection to the onset of signs and symptoms (incubation period) is three to six days.
Source: Mayo Clinic
How to curb the spread of hand, foot and mouth disease
US-based Cleveland Clinic suggests the following:
Wash your hands often, especially after changing diapers.
Disinfect any contaminated surfaces with a water and bleach or sanitizing wipes.
Wash your child’s clothing, bedding and any other soiled items.
Stay away from other people, especially during the first few days of the illness. If your child becomes infected, prevent spread by keeping them home from daycare, school or any other group activity. If you are infected, be sure to stay home from work or school.
Each nail was falling off from the root!
Aftercare
Once the children had passed through the phase of contagious “They had to stop going to the nursery and park or anywhere they could come in contact with kids,” says Asif – they returned to normality. But that’s when the flaking began; nails would peel off, digging into tiny feet and skin would tear in dry patches. “I can understand what a mum feels when she sees red spots and the nails peeling but be patient, it’s normal,” says Hussain, recalling her own surprise at the fact.
“The nails were peeling but I wasn’t too scared as the doctor warned me this would happen,” she adds. It was just part of the disease’s fallout.
Pakistani expat Sobia Javid recalls being shocked at this point. “Each nail was falling off from the root!” she exclaims talking about the infection two of her three children suffered from a few years ago. “But there’s nothing for it – we just had to wait until they grew out again.”
Have an experience to share? Write to us at parenting@gulfnews.com