By Joseph B.A. Marzan
The Iloilo City Health Office (ICHO) on Thursday advised the public to be careful as Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) cases shot up to 328 as of Wednesday, March 1.
Dr. June Frances Umani, the ICHO’s Program Coordinator for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, gave the latest number in a press conference at the Iloilo City Hall.
The data included 16 active cases, which are either admitted to hospitals or recommended to stay at home, and 312 recoveries, with zero deaths so far.
Arevalo district logged the most number of cases (121), followed by Mandurriao (16), City Proper (48), Lapuz and Molo (18 each), Jaro (3), and La Paz (1).
As to the barangays, Santo Niño Sur in Arevalo district recorded the most number of cases (23), followed by Calaparan (22) and Sooc (21), also in Arevalo; Pali-Benedicto Rizal in Mandurriao and Santo Niño Norte in Arevalo (11 each), and Dungon and Oñate De Leon in Mandurriao (10 each).
In Jaro, the only cases detected so far are in Marcelo H. Del Pilar (2) and Lanit (1), while Ingore in LaPaz has one case.
Umani said that HFMD is most likely spread through airborne droplets from infected persons whenever they cough or sneeze.
Symptoms include skin bumps, sores on the mouth, gums, inner cheek, hands, feet, or on genitals, fever of up to 38 to 39 degrees Celsius that can last up to 48 hours, loss of appetite, fatigue, and sore throat.
Umani also advised consistent drinking of clean water and a soft diet and fruit juices for children. Persons who feel they are infected should also seek immediate attention from the nearest District Health Centers.
“We still have to cover our mouths, and still have to practice minimum public health protocols. In schools, we have to still sanitize our tables, chairs, and doorknobs,” Umani advised.
“It is important to rest and drink lots of water. Take medicines which help alleviate [symptoms], like in fever, we should take paracetamol, and in rashes, we can use ointments. Do not feed children any hot, salty, hard, or sour food, especially those who are having mouth sores. They can be given fruit juices and feed them softer food, so we prefer soft and cold diets for the children,” she added.
Apart from HFMD, the city is also grappling with other diseases such as dengue with 85 cases (6 active, 77 recoveries, and 2 deaths), and 94 Acute Gastroenteritis cases (12 active and 82 recoveries).
