Olympics, China, Hand Foot & Mouth Disease

With the beginning of the Olympic games in China, days away, the outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease ("HFMD") in that country, with associated childrens' deaths, is a cause for some concern. If visitors from the United States are exposed to the virus and bring it back to the US with them, there is a risk of an epidemic which may further test our already stressed health system.

Hand, foot and mouth disease, a highly infectious and easily spread viral disease, is causing death among Chinese children and is beginning to spread among children in Vietnam and Singapore, as well http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=2008-05-04_D90ETD5G1&show_article=1&cat=breaking. HFMD may be caused by either a coxackie virus A16 or EV71. EV71 may also cause viral meningitis and, rarely, more serious diseases, such as encephalitis, or a poliomyelitis-like paralysis. EV71 encephalitis may be fatal. Cases of fatal encephalitis occurred during outbreaks of HFMD in Malaysia in 1997 and in Taiwan in 1998.EV71 encephalitis may be fatal. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol9no1/02-0112.htm

According to the CDC, hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common illness of infants and children which is characterized by fever, sores in the mouth, and a rash with blisters. It begins with a mild fever, poor appetite, malaise ("feeling sick"), and frequently a sore throat. Then, one or 2 days after the fever begins, painful sores develop in the mouth which begin as small red spots that blister and then often become ulcers. They are usually located on the tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks. The skin rash develops over 1 to 2 days with flat or raised red spots, some with blisters. The rash does not itch, and it is usually located on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It may also appear on the buttocks. A person with HFMD may have only the rash or the mouth ulcers. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/hfhf.htm

According to the CDC, HFMD is moderately contagious. Infection is spread from person to person by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, saliva, fluid from blisters, or the stool of infected persons. A person is most contagious during the first week of the illness. HFMD is not transmitted to or from pets or other animals.

No specific treatment is available for this or other enterovirus infections. Symptomatic treatment is given to provide relief from fever, aches, or pain from the mouth ulcers.