Dr Annie Preston - Thomas

Dr Annie Preston - Thomas talking with Mark Hogan

Dr Preston-Thomas said the disease usually began with a mild fever and a runny nose. “This is followed by a sore throat and mouth, with the appearance of blisters in the mouth, and on hands and feet,” she said. “Sometimes blisters may also be seen on knees, elbows or in the nappy area. “The blisters usually last for 3-5 days.”

Dozens of cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth disease have been identified by public health officials across Far North Queensland. Here's what you can do to prevent the disease spreading.

Parents are being urged to watch out for Hand, Foot and Mouth disease following dozens of cases that have been identified in the Far North.

There have been more than 60 presentations of Hand, Foot and Mouth disease (HFMD) to Cairns Hospital’s Emergency Department since the start of the year, including 9 patient admissions.

Tropical Public Health Services Cairns public health medical officer, Dr Annie Preston-Thomas, said the team was aware of at least 15 day-care centres affected by the disease across the Cairns and Tablelands regions since early January.

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Symptoms

• Hand, foot and mouth disease starts with blisters that begin as small red dots which later become ulcers.
• Blisters appear inside the cheeks, gums, and on the sides of the tongue, as well as on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
• In infants, blisters can sometimes be seen in the nappy area. Blisters usually last for 3-5 days
• Children can sometimes have a low fever, irritability, sore throat, tiredness, feel off colour and may be off their food for a day or two.
• Very rarely, enteroviruses can cause other illnesses that affect the heart, brain, lining of the brain (meningitis), lungs, or eyes.

Signs that an infant or older child might have a more serious form of hand, foot and mouth disease include any of the following:

• Persistent fever (38°C or above for 72 hours or more)
• Abnormal movements / jerking movements
• Rapid breathing
• Excessive tiredness, drowsiness
• Excessive irritability
• Difficulty walking.

If any of these signs are present, then the child should be seen by a doctor urgently even if they have been checked earlier in the illness.