Bhubaneswar: After Kerala, cases of hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) or Tomato flu have started to pour in in Odisha. What is of more concern is that the disease, which is caused by a virus called Coxsackievirus A16, is also affecting children above five years of age and also with repeat infection that is highly unusual.
“There has been a sudden spurt in HFMD in Bhubaneswar with similar reports coming in from Cuttack and several other districts. Typically the virus affects children under five, but we are seeing cases in children as old as 12 and even a 14-year-old. Further, some of them are infected for the second time, which is highly unusual due to the long-lasting immunity of the virus. There have also been cases, where repeat infection is in the same season,” paediatrician and Dean of School of Allied Health Sciences, AIPH University, Dr Arijit Mohapatra was quoted as saying by the New Indian Express.
He attributed it to a possible mutated strain of the Coxsackievirus, or a totally different virus. “Enterovirus 71 (EV-A71) has been demonstrated in cases of HFMD outbreaks in East and Southeast Asia. We currently don’t know which strain has caused this outbreak and therefore, surveillance and sampling of any infectious disease on a regular basis is important,” he added.
Rashes, red blisters, skin irritation and dehydration are common in children affected by the flu. However, there is no specific drug for it and the symptoms resolve on their own with supportive care. Since it is contagious and spreads through touch, close contact and respiratory modes, those infected need to be isolated and practice proper hygiene. It is essential to prevent infected children from scratching the blisters caused by the flu.
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