By Mustakim Ramli
SHAH ALAM, May 28 — Patients infected with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) will usually recover within 14 days, says Canselor Tuanku Muhriz Hospital (HCTM) Infection Control Unit head Dr Sharifah Azura Salleh.
She said HFMD will usually not cause severe complications to patients unless they are infected with the HFMD Enterovirus 71 (EV71) virus which is considered more dangerous.
“HFMD patients usually recover within 14 days and very rarely it causes death.
“However, if a patient is infected with Enterovirus 71 which is considered more dangerous, there is a risk that the patient can get an infection in the brain and die,” she said.
Dr Sharifah said this during the Bual Bicara talk show titled ‘HFMD: What parents need to know?’’ broadcast live on SelangorTV Youtube and Media Selangor Facebook last night.
Therefore, she asked parents to immediately bring their children to see a doctor if there are symptoms of HFMD such as fever and blisters on the inside of the mouth, hand and foot.
“Doctors can help identify the virus that infects the patients and apply the appropriate treatment because currently there is no specific treatment for HFMD.
“Treatment is administered according to the symptoms, that is, if the patient has a fever, we give fever medicine and if it is rash, we will give some cream to reduce the itching,” she said.
