Hand, foot and mouth disease detected in some KZN schools

Hand foot and mouth disease on a child’s feet.

2 minutes

Parents in KwaZulu-Natal are being urged to monitor their children for symptoms related to hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

This comes after two schools in Phoenix, north of Durban, confirmed cases of the disease over the past few days.

The schools – Grandmore Primary and Lenham Primary – have issued statements cautioning parents to be on the lookout for symptoms.

Known as a common children’s virus, the disease causes sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet.

The condition is spread by direct contact with saliva or mucus. Symptoms include fever, sore throat, irritability and loss of appetite.

Chairperson for the Parents Association in the province, Vee Gani, says parents should not panic but should err on the side of caution.

“If your children are sick, rather not send them to school. Get them to a doctor and let a medical professional examine them; let the medical professional diagnose them and then you can take the precautions from there. I think if your children are displaying symptoms of being sick and you send them to school, it can put other children at risk, the teachers at risk or anybody else at risk. I think the idea is that if they display any symptoms of being sick that you rather just get it checked out to be safe.”