HPA warns over rise in flu, conjunctivitis, chickenpox
Hand, foot and mouth disease and dengue are also on the rise
By
Aminath Shifleen
Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Monday advised caution over the spread of flu and several other flu-like diseases.
In a tweet, HPA said it had observed a rapid rise in the incidence of:
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Cold and fever
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Hand, foot and mouth disease
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Chickenpox
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Conjunctivitis
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Diarrhoea
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Dengue
IGMH's paediatric specialist Dr Ahmed Faisal also spoke about the high prevalence of hand, foot and mouth disease. He said:
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It spreads mostly among children
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Sometimes adults and the whole family also contracts the disease
"Although its called hand, foot and mouth disease, ulcers may not be seen on those areas," he said.
The doctor said there was no specific treatment for the disease. However, he said that there were some things that could be done:
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Consuming plenty of liquids
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Taking medicine for fever
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Applying Calamin lotion on the ulcers
In addition to the virus, children are increasingly coming down with dengue, the doctor said.
