Child-care centres plagued with cases of hand, foot and mouth disease

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This article was published 19/08/2022 (1380 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — A new survey by the Manitoba Child Care Association sheds further light on outbreaks amid a sharp increase in cases of hand, foot and mouth disease this summer.

In the last three months, cases of the contagious viral infection have been reported at 70 per cent of the nearly 150 licensed daycare centres and family child-care providers that responded to the survey.

One facility had 44 cases a month ago, while 43 per cent of the children at another site were affected by the illness, which causes painful red blisters in and around the mouth and on the skin, typically the hands and feet.

“It really demonstrates how transmissible it is,” MCCA executive director Jodie Kehl said of the findings. “It’s been challenging. Facilities have had to be really diligent in enhancing their cleaning and sanitizing procedures.”

Facilities said the disease is difficult to contain because it spreads easily, and children are contagious before symptoms appear.

Staff at one facility said they have never seen the hand, foot and mouth situation this bad.

The survey respondents with cases currently have an average of four, according to the poll conducted for the Free Press.

Since June, infections have increased at 44 per cent of the sites and decreased at 17 per cent.

The average number of licensed spaces in the facilities is 56.

Hand, foot and mouth is a common illness that can spread through saliva, respiratory droplets from a cough or sneeze, blister fluid and feces.

Symptoms in children and adults are usually mild and clear on their own within seven to 10 days.

A fever lasting a few days is also common.

Winnipeg mother Breanne Alyssa believes her 15-month-old daughter caught hand, foot and mouth at a downtown daycare centre in July.

“She was still at the age where she put everything in her mouth,” said Alyssa. “[The case] was actually pretty mild. All she had were some spots around her mouth and her feet.”

The spots on the girl’s mouth developed into blisters.

“She didn’t want to eat or drink for the first day,” said Alyssa, whose husband also developed blisters.

Kehl said child-care providers are spending a lot of time sanitizing toys and surfaces to prevent spread.

Some sites are still practising COVID-19 pandemic policies, and already had enhanced health and safety protocols in place, she said.

Policies and procedures for a child’s return following infection vary from facility to facility.

Some sites request a doctor’s note or allow a child to come back when his or her sores or blisters are dried, and they no longer have a fever.

Kehl noted there is frustration among parents who have to stay home with an infected child, but don’t have any sick time left after COVID-19 exposure.

“It feels like we just can’t seem to catch a break,” she said.

Some families have received mixed messages from health-care providers about when it is safe for a child to return, said Kehl.

Further complications can arise if staff catch the virus and are forced to take time off work amid a shortage of early childhood educators, she said.

A Shared Health spokesman said cases requiring outpatient treatment at Children’s Hospital have increased following a two-year dormancy linked to the coronavirus pandemic.

The increase has been sharp in recent weeks, with 29 cases in June and 138 in July.

Children’s Hospital treated 18 patients in 2021 and 25 in 2020.

In 2019, there were 143 cases at the hospital.

None of patients between 2019 and 2022 was admitted.

The data does not include patients who sought care elsewhere.

The spokesman said the end of COVID-19 public health measures has led to a re-emergence of hand, foot and mouth, with children more socially active than they were the previous two years.

Changing strains of the virus are also contributing to the increase.

Staying home while sick, frequent hand washing and cleaning of surfaces, covering of coughs and sneezes and avoiding shared use of toys or utensils can reduce the risk of transmission.

While there is no specific treatment, acetaminophen can be used to relieve fever and pain.

Blisters in the mouth can make eating and swallowing painful.

It’s important children drink fluids such as water to stay hydrated. Avoid acidic foods and drinks, such as fruit juice, which can make sores more painful.

» Winnipeg Free Press