School reopening exposes kids to viral diseases

Sanjay R. Murty | NT
Bengaluru

As schools have reopened and children have started attending physical classes, cases of viral infections are on the rise in the city. One such infection is Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD). Though a common viral infection, the number of cases is higher this time compared with previous two years.

Dr Sanjay K.S., Director, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, said the viral infection causes painless rashes on the palms and soles, with a fever that may last for 2 to 3 days. Rashes can also appear on the knees, elbows, buttocks and inside the mouth.

“Lesions in the mouth are painful, but those on the rest of the body are usually not. Many children do not even notice the lesions. The parents should keep an eye out for them,” Dr Nalini Shenoy, a Paediatrician said and added that the infection is a self-limiting one and is treated symptomatically.

HFMD infection usually increases during the onset of winter. Doctors say that the infection appeared relatively early this year. The infection affects schoolgoing children, especially those below 5 years of age, she said.

Dr Sanjay recommended the use of emollient cream on the affected areas. “Parents and children can take the usual precautions taken to prevent viral infections,” he said.

Some parents have had a tough time managing the infection when their children were diagnosed with HFMD.Jahnavi, the mother of a two-year-old girl, said that she has not been sending her daughter to school for over two weeks. “My daughter got infected after she started attending her pre-school. She had a fever for two days and lesions for over a week,” said Jahnavi.

She added that her daughter’s infection was relatively mild and that few other children whom she knew had suffered for almost a month.“Some parents send infected children to school as soon as the fever subsides. Not all parents understand that the child needs to remain at home for a longer period,” she said