Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease on the rise

By Poojathmi Rivithma 

Colombo, November 12 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka has reported a notable increase in cases of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in recent days.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Dr. Deepal Perera, a consultant pediatrician at Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH), noted that HFMD cases have risen among schoolchildren. He explained that viral infections, especially HFMD, tend to spread more during the colder season, particularly between November and December.

Dr. Perera advised parents to keep children with symptoms—such as small red or white blisters on their hands, feet, or in their mouths, a red rash with brown scales, or a rash on the outer arms—at home for 3-4 days to prevent further spread.

Health authorities have also observed that in some cases, tests for influenza and dengue may yield negative results. However, as these are viral infections, it is unclear if they are related, and COVID-19 should also be considered in the diagnosis.

Meanwhile, there has been a noted increase in dengue cases and other illnesses linked to the influenza B virus.