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19 March 2024

Is hand, foot and mouth disease raising its head once again in Dubai schools?

Published
By Shuchita Kapur

Is hand, foot and mouth disease raising its head once again among children in Dubai?

A few isolated cases have been reported in a prominent Dubai school, urging parents to take note of symptoms that lead to the disease.

In a letter sent out to parents, a Dubai school has informed parents that several children around Dubai schools are down with fever, mild cough and occasionally abdominal tummy aches.

“While a majority of these are upper respiratory infections there have been some cases where the children have then developed blister-like lesions on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, buttocks and in the mouth. This condition is known as hand foot and mouth disease – it is viral in origin and is contagious,” reads the letter.

School authorities have urged parents to take care and observe the needed precautions. “Precautions include thorough hand washing. Do not share clothing, utensils or toys. Being viral in origin the condition is self-limiting. The mouth lesions, should they occur are painful. Care has to be taken to ensure the child remains well hydrated and nourished. The symptoms and lesion usually take 6 to 10 days to resolve. During the acute period the child should be rested at home,” adds the letter.

Doctors suggest that in such a case kids should stay away from the class under all circumstances. “The children should be exempt from the class,” advises Dr. Ahmed Mahmoud Hady, Specialist Pediatrician at Medcare Clinic.

A number of other schools that this website spoke with have denied any such cases in their schools.

Dubai International Academy, an International Baccalaureate school, said no such cases were reported in the school.

No cases of the disease have been reported in Taleem schools as well, confirmed a spokesperson.

A few playschools in the city had reported cases of the disease last year in September when they opened for the new academic session.

Image via Shutterstock

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