Klang Valley cases isolated incidences

Star: PETALING JAYA: Cases of hand, foot and mouth (HFM) disease detected in the Klang Valley are isolated incidences, said Health Ministry disease control department director Dr Ramlee Rahmat.
“HFM disease, which is endemic, is bound to happen from time to time at different places in the country,” he said.
“The number of cases here is still within an acceptable level. There is no need for an alert at present.”
He said the situation differed from Sarawak, which was badly affected.
He advised parents of affected children to keep them away from crowded places to prevent possible infection or spread of the disease which normally occurs in children below 10 years old.

In SUNGAI BULOH, Norzalina Haron said the telltale signs of ulcers in the mouth and red spots over the hands and feet indicated that something was wrong with her son Ahmad Irham, four.
She took him to a child specialist where he was confirmed to have contracted the HFM disease.
“I first noticed the red spots on Ahmad Irham last Sunday when he had high fever, blisters on his hands and feet and ulcers in his mouth,” she said.
The doctor advised that her son should be warded and put on drips, mainly due to dehydration. Not wanting to do so, Norzalina obtained a second opinion from a private hospital.
“I was told that Irham’s condition wasn't critical and still under control. They allowed me to take him home to recuperate so long as he took penty of water and anti-dehydration salt.
Yesterday, Norzalina's youngest son – two-year-old Ahmad Akmal – developed signs of the disease.
A neighbour, who is Irham’s classmate, supposedly contracted similar symptoms but the child’s father could not confirm whether it was the HFM disease.