Antique strengthens campaign vs HFMD, logs 9 cases

ANTIQUE – The Provincial Health Office ( PHO) of Antique is stepping up its campaign against hand-footand-mouth disease (HFMD) this year. Nine cases were already recorded as of Jan. 11 of this year.

These HFMD cases were from San Jose de Buenavista (eight) and Valderrama (one).

Irene Duldoco, Health Education and Information Officer of Antique APHO, said most of the infected were children aged one to six.

Particularly, there were five HFMD cases among oneyear-old children and one case each for ages two, three, four, and six.

Duldoco explained that HFMD is a viral disease, often affecting the younger population.

According to the Nationwide Children’ s Hospital, early symptoms are a lot like a common cold (fever, headache, sore throat, and runny nose), small sores ( ulcers) on the throat and tonsils, a rash of very small blisters or red spots on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and diaper area, tenderness or pain when touching the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, and poor appetite due to painful swallowing.

HFMD is contagious and spreads easily from person to person. It can spread if you breathe in droplets from an infected person, touch something that has been sneezed, coughed, or drooled on, kiss, hug, or share cups or eating utensils with an infected person, or touch body fluid from blisters.

With these, Dulduco advised Antiqueños, especially parents, that their children f requently wash hands, maintain proper good hygiene, and eat healthy food.

The Antique PHO, i n a public health advisory, emphasized the importance of early consultation at the health center or primary care facility once signs and symptoms manifest.

APHO also urged the public not to have close contact with people with HFMD, maintain cleanliness around and inside the house, and use a handkerchief or tissue when sneezing or coughing./