Sunway City: Parents and caregivers are advised to remain extra cautious following the recent surge in Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) amid the excitement of the school holidays. Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City (SMC) Paediatric Infectious Disease Consultant Dr Ch'ng Tong Wei expressed concern over the current scale of transmission, calling for heightened awareness and preventive measures.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Ch'ng, in a statement, highlighted a noticeable increase in hospital referrals and parental inquiries, along with requests for guidance from preschools and kindergartens on managing outbreaks. The recent rise in cases across Selangor, Johor, Perak, and other states underscores the need for public vigilance, not only in hospitals but within the community.
Dr Ch'ng emphasized the importance of monitoring the situation closely, with paediatric teams, nurses, and infection control units working collaboratively to support parents and manage cases safely and efficiently. She stressed that by staying informed and adopting preventive measures, the public can collectively reduce the disease's transmission and safeguard children's health.
The highly contagious viral infection predominantly affects children under five and typically presents with symptoms such as fever, sore throat, reduced appetite, painful oral ulcers, and rash on the hands, feet, and occasionally buttocks. While most cases are mild, a small number linked to the EV71 virus strain might lead to complications such as viral meningitis, encephalitis, and cardiopulmonary complications, though these remain rare.
Dr Ch'ng advised that most children recover without complications; however, consulting a doctor is crucial if symptoms such as refusal to eat or drink, high fever lasting more than two days, or lethargy, irritability, or altered consciousness occur. Severe cases may require hospitalisation for intravenous hydration, antipyretics, and close neurological monitoring.
With no specific treatment for HFMD, prevention and comfort care are essential. Measures include keeping children with HFMD at home until all blisters have dried and they are fever-free for at least 24 hours, practising good hygiene, and disinfecting toys and surfaces. Visits to high-risk areas should be limited, and sharing personal items should be avoided.
The Ministry of Health reported a 266 per cent increase in HFMD infections to 99,601 cases by the 17th epidemiological week this year, compared with 27,236 cases in the same period last year, with no fatalities reported. Outbreak-related cases comprised 10 per cent of this year's total, while 90 per cent occurred sporadically.
Sunway Medical Centre, Malaysia's largest private quaternary hospital, continues to lead in medical innovation and patient care. It offers 28 centres of excellence with 810 licensed beds and more than 60 specialties. SMC's Children's Health and Development Centre boasts 50 paediatric consultants and surgeons across 26 paediatric subspecialties, and it features Malaysia's first dedicated Children's Emergency Department in a private hospital.
SMC has received numerous accolades, including being named the top hospital in paediatrics in Malaysia in the Best Specialised Hospitals Asia Pacific Newsweek 2024 rankings and being listed among the top 250 hospitals globally in Newsweek's World's Best Hospitals rankings for two consecutive years.