THE outbreak of Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) continues to rise across municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal with close to 300 reported cases so far.

Common symptoms in Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease are fever, sore throat, tiredness, loss of appetite and small blisters on the inside of the mouth, sides of the tongue, palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Supplied.

Yesterday the provincial health department said that overnight there were 276 confirmed cases reported and that all those who had been infected were in primary schools and daycare centres.

The outbreak was first reported in eThekwini Municipality but has since spread to King Cetshwayo, Ugu, uMkhanyakude, uMgungundlovu, uThukela and Zululand.

Earlier this week KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane called for calm and said that the department would continue to monitor the situation closely.

“This is not a time for panic, but it is a time for action. Let us not allow this disease to take hold. By working together, staying vigilant, and prioritising hygiene, we can protect our children and prevent further infections,” Simelane said.

On Tuesday the MEC and other health officials visited Lenham Primary School in Phoenix. At that time the school had the highest number of infections with 89 confirmed infections. While some parents had called for the school to be closed it was still functioning as usual yesterday.

Earlier this week Northdene Preparatory School in Queensburgh also informed parents that two of their pupils had HFMD, and called on them not to send sick children to school. In a letter the school said that classrooms are thoroughly cleaned and sanitised every afternoon and that since the onset of COVID-19 this had become standard practice. “If a medical professional confirmed that your child has Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, please inform a Management Member in order for us to monitor other learners. A Clearance Certificate from a medical professional is required when the learner returns to school,” it said.

Last week the Independent on Saturday interviewed a parent who said his daughter was placed in isolation in hospital after the infection took a turn for the worse and her blisters were filled with pus. She was discharged after four days.

According to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases HFMD is usually diagnosed clinically based on symptoms. However, it says that in severe cases of infection, throat or stool samples may be collected and sent to a laboratory for confirmation and to rule out other diagnoses. It said that HFM is a viral infection that commonly affects infants and children under 10 years of age. It is caused by a group of viruses known as enteroviruses, which infect millions each year, globally.

“There is no specific vaccine or treatment for HFMD. Individual symptoms like fever and pain can be treated with medication. Affected individuals should rest and stay hydrated. The infection is usually self-limiting and resolves in 7 to 10 days without medication. Some individuals may need hospital admission for complications. Those with severe symptoms should seek care immediately.”

According to the World Health Organization’s website, HFMD disease is a common infectious disease that occurs mostly in children, but can also occur in adolescents and occasionally in adults. It says that in most cases the disease is mild and self limiting, with common symptoms including fever, painful sores in the mouth, and a rash with blisters on hands, feet and buttocks. However, more severe symptoms such as meningitis, encephalitis and polio-like paralysis may also occur.