Bhubaneswar kids suffer from hand, foot, mouth disease

BHUBANESWAR: Clinical symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) have been detected among the children of Bhubaneswar. It has mostly affected children below 14 years of age, according to a new study by Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) and Institute of Medical Science & SUM Hospital (IMS&SH) published in the e-publication of Indian Journal of Paediatrics' recently.
The disease was first reported in Odisha in 2009 though it was reported from Kerala, Maharashtra and West Bengal earlier. The study identified 78 cases in the four months to 31 years age group. All had skin rash while more than 74% patients suffer from fever.
The common symptoms were loss of appetite and irritability with rashes distributed on the knees, hands and feet. Buttocks were the most commonly affected sites in over 83% patients followed by knees in 77.5%. There were also lesions on the wrist, ankle and trunk in some patients.
The first case in state was that of a 15-month-girl from Rasulgarh identified by the dermatology OPD of IMS&SH. She had come to the hospital with sore throat, oral ulcers and irritability in 2009. Out of the total 78 patients studies in Bhubaneswar, 16 were from Rasulgarh, 22 from Nayapalli, 15 from Sahib Nagar and 25 from Dumduma. "The study will help doctors diagnose the disease early," said RMRC director S K Kar, adding the large tribal population lacking general hygiene and water sanitation were susceptible to it.