ILOILO – Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) cases were reported in 33 towns and the component city of Passi.
HFMD is a viral infection common in children under 10 years old. It is characterized by fluid-filled blisters appearing on the hands, feet and mouth with or without fever.
It is transmitted through droplets or direct contact with nasal discharges, saliva, feces, and fluid from the rashes of an infected individual.
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, provincial health officer, stressed the importance of proper hygiene.
“Practice frequent hand washing using clean water and soap,” said Quiñon.
Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) data showed HFMD to have spread to the following towns: San Dionisio (66), Leon (24), San Rafael (22), Concepcion (21), Banate (19), New Lucena (19), Pavia (17), San Joaquin (17), Cabatuan (14), Miag-ao (14), Calinog (13), Mina (13), Dueñas (12), Zarraga (11), Ajuy (10), Pototan (10), Igbaras (nine), Barotac Viejo (nine), Bingawan (nine), Tigbauan (eight), Badiangan (seven), Dingle (six), Lambunao (five), Passi City (four), Janiuay (four), Sara (three), Anilao (three), Lemery (three), Tubungan (three), Santa Barbara (two), Barotac Nuevo (two), Guimbal (two), and Maasin (one).
Quiñon said children with HFMD may have the following:
* fever
* sore throat
* feeling unwell
* 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
Only 10 towns in the province still have no HFMD cases – Alimodian, Balasan, Batad, Carles, Dumangas, Estancia, Leganes, Oton, San Enrique, and San Miguel./PN