ILOILO – From Jan. 21 to 28 450 new cases of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) were recorded in this province.
Iloilo now has 674 cases – 1,772 percent higher than the 36 cases reported in the same period in 2022.
The additional cases were from the towns of Santa Barbara (81), Alimodian (42), Badiangan (42), Tigbauan (28), Leon (27), Pototan (27), Barotac Viejo (25), Calinog (23), Banate (15), San Dionisio (12), Bingawan (12), Tubungan (12), San Miguel (11), Barotac Nuevo (10), Oton (10), San Rafael (nine), Passi City (nine), Lemery (nine), Cabatuan (nine), Zarraga (seven), Dumangas (four), Igbaras (six), Lambunao (five), Anilao (four), Batad (five), New Lucena (two), Pavia (two), Janiuay (one), and Maasin (one).
HFMD is characterized by painful sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. Commonly caused by the coxsackievirus, this contagious infection occurs mostly in children.
The 10 towns with the highest cumulative cases of HFMD this year are Santa Barbara (90), Barotac Viejo (48), Alimodian (43), Badiangan (43), Calinog (39), Leon (39), Pototan (37), San Dionisio (33), Bingawan (32), and Pavia (31).
These are the number of HFMD cases for the remaining towns: Tigbauan (28), Barotac Nuevo (25), Banate (24), Lemery (22), Passi City (16), Oton (15), Lambunao (14), San Rafael (12), San Miguel (12), Tubungan (12), Zarraga (11), Dumangas (10), Cabatuan (10), Igbaras (nine), Anilao (six), Janiuay (five), Batad (five), New Lucena (two), Dueñas (one), and Maasin (one).
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, head of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO), said there has been a sudden increase in HFMD cases because face-to-face classes have resumed. Play centers in malls are also open. These are places where children can easily contract the infectious disease, she said.
“Gani, pahanumdom kag pangabay sa tanan nga mga ginikanan nga kon ang aton bata may hilanat kag blisters ukon may bitog-bitog, indi pagpakadtuon sa school,” said Colmenares-Quiñon.
HFMD may cause all of the following signs and symptoms or just some of them:
* 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./PN
