Thailand reporting dengue and hand, foot and mouth disease outbreaks in 2013
Thailand is battling two outbreaks of viral diseases going on to the half way mark of 2013–Dengue fever and hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).
Thai Health Ministry officials say that since the beginning of the year, there has been a total of 39,029 people treated for dengue, of whom 44 have died. Half the patients were under the age of 15.
They are even making the dire prediction of 100,000 cases and 100 deaths by year’s end.
That number would be significantly higher than the huge numbers of 2012 where Thailand health officials recorded 74,250 cases of the mosquito borne viral disease and 79 deaths.
In addition to the dengue outbreak, health authorities are reporting more than 11,000 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease during the first five months of 2013.
Data from the Ministry’s Disease Control Department shows a total of 11,678 people with the majority being children.
Dengue fever is an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes and caused by any of four related dengue viruses. This disease used to be called “break-bone fever” because it sometimes causes severe joint and muscle pain that feels like bones are breaking.
People get the dengue virus from the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. It is not contagious from person to person.
There are three types of dengue fever in order of less severe to most: the typical uncomplicated dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHS) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS).
HFMD is typically a benign and self-limitingdisease. Most common in young children, it presents as fever, oral lesions and rash on the hands, feet and buttocks. The oral lesions consist of rapidly-ulcerating vesicles on the buccal mucosa, tongue, palate and gums. The rash consists of papulovesicular lesions on the palms, fingers and soles, which generally persist for seven to 10 days, and maculopapular lesions on the buttocks.
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