On Monday at Pattaya City School 7, Khun Wee-ra-wat Kha-khai, the Deputy Mayor of Pattaya, along with Khun Wan-na-porn Jam-jam-ras, the Director of Pattaya’s Public Health and Environment Department and public health officers, brought physicians from the Pattaya Public Health Service Center to lecture on how to inspect for of Hand Mouth and Foot Disease. The doctors addressed school students, and at the same time checked the hands, mouths and feet of the students, to make sure that  the students are healthy and free of this disease.

Khun Wan-na-porn said that the Pattaya officials are well aware of this dangerous disease which has been spreading among school children. So, the Pattaya Public Health and Environment Department is bringing specialists and nurses to check and follow, control and survey the spread of this disease in the school children, to ensure that there is no hand, mouth and foot disease in Pattaya. The first symptoms of the disease are not very severe.  There is 3-6 days incubation period, and at the beginning there will be a low grade fever and feeling hot then cold for 1-2 days. After that, the mouth starts to hurt, and rashes break out along the gums, tongue, and cheek.  Then more inflammations will appear on the hands and feet, and along the arms and legs.  If a baby is suffering from this virus, the rashes will be found over much of the body. The symptoms will improve and disappear within 7-10 days.

Recovery from this disease can be within 7-10 days if there are no complications. There is no specific medicines or vaccines to treat this disease,  so only the symptoms can be treated, by giving meds for the fever and pain relief, and of course, lots of rest.

Everyone is urged to keep their hands clean, especially before eating and after using the toilet. Most important is to separate the patient from their friends in the school or nursery for 1 week, so their friends remain healthy. Also, a thorough Cleaning of the floor, toilets, toys, and playground with antiseptics can halt the spread of this disease.

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