Doctors warn of surge in hand-foot-mouth disease in Noida and Ghaziabad

Noida: Doctors have warned of a surge in hand-foot-mouth disease, especially in children, in Noida and Ghaziabad. Contagious in nature, the viral infection causes painful red blisters in the mouth, throat, hands, feet and diaper area. Severity persists in a small number of patients while it takes at least 7-10 days to heal from the day of the onset of the symptoms.

Dr Amit Kumar Gupta, a paediatrician at Motherhood hospital in Noida, said, "We are witnessing an increase in the viral infection, with at least 3-4 patients coming to the outpatient department daily. The trend has been prevalent for the past three weeks. Though the infection is self-limiting that heals in 7-10 days, the infection can continue for some weeks if proper care is not taken."

The initial symptoms of the infection include fever, headache, sore throat which continue for a few days and later intensify with throat ulcers, red blisters and rashes on the palm with frequent pain, according to Dr Gupta.

Doctors in Ghaziabad, too, claim to be witnessing an increase in the number of patients with the infection. "We are also seeing at least 7-10 cases on a daily basis. The infection is prevalent among school-going children," said Dr Sudhir Gehlot from Yashoda Super-Speciality Hospital, Kaushambi. "The blisters and ulcers in the throat can become painful, however the basic medication to control fever and an ointment to treat the ulcers helps in subsiding the problem."

According to the doctors, infected children should keep themselves hydrated. There is currently no vaccine against the infection.