HOW TO PREVENT HFMD (Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease)

Protect your children from HFMD, by teaching them good hygiene practices such as:

• Washing hands with soap and water before and after going to the toilet
• Covering the mouth and nose with a piece of tissue when coughing or sneezing
• Avoid sharing food/drinks, eating utensils, toothbrushes, or towels with others
• Ensuring that toys or appliances that are contaminated by nasal or oral secretions are disinfected by dettol before they are used again
• Putting on a face mask when feeling unwell 

In addition, do these four steps before sending your child to the school, kindergarten or childcare center every day:

• Take your child's temperature
• Look for mouth ulcers. Ask your child to open the mouth and look for ulcers on the tongue, inner sides of the mouth and on the lips
• Look for blister on the hands. Ask your child to hold out the hands and show his/her palms. Look for small pinkish or reddish bumps or tiny blisters with fluids. Then check for the same on the back of the hands
• Look for blisters on the feet. Check for bumps or blisters on the upper part of the feet and the soles

If you observe any of the above, do not send your child to the school, kindergarten or childcare center. Instead, take him/her to a family doctor for a thorough examination. If your child is diagnosed with HFMD, please keep him/her at home, returning only after the expiry of the medical certificate (MC) and when fully recovered.