unconscious endeavours

HAND,FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

After 3 days of procrastination to visit the doctor, I finally paid her a visit after spotting some rashes on my hands and feet. My sis-in-law suspected that it was hand, foor and mouth disease. True enough, it was.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is caused by the Coxsackie virus (a member of the Enterovirus family). The throat and tonsils develop small ulcers while the hands, feet, and diaper area are affected by a rash with characteristic vesicles (very small blisters). This is usually a mild illness with the rash healing in 5 to 7 days.

Passing it off as a common cold initially and undermining the seriousness of being sick definitely have a price to pay. Now, I have to isolate myself from the outside world so that my immune system will be able to recover and not spread it to others at the same time.

Transmission occurs by means of direct contact with nasal and/or oral secretions, fecal material, or aerosolized droplets in a fecal-oral or oral-oral route. Initial viral implantation in the buccal and ileal mucosa is followed by spread to lymph nodes within 24 hours. Viremia rapidly ensues, with spread to the oral mucosa and skin. By day 7, neutralizing antibody levels increase, and the virus is eliminated. ( I do hope so)

Since children and elderly people have a tendency to get the disease much more than adults, the doc was guessing that it was probably due to my long travelling period on the plane and not having sufficient rest after.


Symptoms
Fever.
Sore throat.
Ulcers in the throat, mouth and tongue.
Headache.
A rash with vesicles on hands, feet, and diaper area. The vesicles are typically on the palm side of the hands, the sole side of the feet, and are very characteristic in appearance. The vesicles are also tender or painful if pressed.
Loss of appetite.


I was diagnosed with a fever of 40.2deg C.

Generally, complete recovery occurs in 5 to 7 days. (i'm praying hard for myself to recover fast!)

posted by shuugi @ 9:17 PM