UI Professor: Hand Foot Mouth Disease Is Not A Dangerous Disease But Quite Contagious

Professor of Pulmonology and Respirational Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine (FK), University of Indonesia (UI) Prof. Dr. Tjandra Yoga Aditama. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Professor of Pulmonology and Respirational Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine (FK) of the University of Indonesia (UI) Prof. Dr. Tjandra Yoga Aditama said Hand Foot Mouth Disease (HFMD) was not a serious disease, but quite infectious.

"This disease is actually HFMD or what is often called the Singapore Flu, which is actually quite common in children and babies," said Tjandra Yoga Aditama, quoted from Antara, Saturday, March 30.

He said HFMD had an incubation period of 3-7 days characterized by fever, rashes or rashes on the skin and literature or small bumps on the soles of the feet, hands and mouth mucose. Sufferers tend to have no appetite and pain in the throat.

"Usually, after a day or two after a fever, complaints of mouth pain arise starting from a liter until it can then become mucus. Lesions can occur in the tongue, gums or other mouth parts," he said.

Tjandra, who is also the Director of Postgraduate Work at YARSI University, said that HFMD is not a serious disease and will recover within 7-10 days, treatment is only supportive.

Tjandra said the causes of HFMD were the entertainmentvirus, including the coxsackievirus A16, EV 71, and echovirus.

"Indeed, in very, very rare incidents, HFMD due to EV 71 can also cause meningitis and even encephalitis. EV 71 infections start from the cerina channel which then causes neurological disorders. In addition, HFMD due to the coxsackievirus A16 can also cause meningitis," he said.

Tjandra said, HFMD is quite contagious through direct contact, nasal and throat fluids, saliva, fluids from the patient's literature. The highest transmission period in the first week is invection.

"There is no specific prevention for HFMD, but the risk of contracting can be reduced by Clean and Healthy Lifestyle (PHBS), such as washing hands with soap (CTPS). If the complaint is sufficient, it means that it is good to consult with the nearest health officer," he said.