Mohali: Three YPS students found infected with hand, foot and mouth disease

The district health department on Monday confirmed detection of three cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), a highly contagious viral infection, at Yadavindra Public School, Mohali.

In view of the three students of kindergarten being found infected with the disease, the school has switched the kindergarten classes to online mode.

Major General TPS Waraich (retd), director, YPS, said, “The three students are from one section of kindergarten, but physical classes for the entire kindergarten wing have been suspended to avoid risk of infection.”

Meanwhile, in a press release, civil surgeon Dr Adarshpal Kaur and epidemiologist Dr Harmandeep Kaur stressed on paying attention to symptoms as infected patients should be isolated for infection control.

Initial symptoms include fever, poor appetite and sore throat and in day or two, painful sores develop on the mouth, hands and soles of the feet. Rashes may also appear on knees, elbows, buttocks or genital area.

They said the contagious illness was likely to affect infants and children under five years of age, though older children and adults could also get it.
They said depending on the severity of the symptoms, samples from the throat or stool were collected for laboratory testing. If tested positive, patient is given symptomatic treatment