It is unusual for a child or an adult to have such a severe attack of hand, foot and mouth disease.
It is unusual for a child or an adult to have such a severe attack of hand, foot and mouth disease, says Dr Leong Hoe Nam, infectious disease physician from Rophi Clinic at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital.
Dr Leong, who was Glynisia’s doctor, explains that her nails were affected as the nail beds were damaged by the infection.
Her extreme hair loss is known as telogen effluvium. “After a stressful period, the hair stops growing and subsequently falls off one to two months later, in large amounts. The good news is all these will recover,” Dr Leong explains, adding that this typically happens after one gives birth or has had a severe illness.
So how should parents protect themselves? Dr Leong admits that it’s “extremely difficult” to reduce the risk.
“Family members have multiple contact and thus exposure. More exposure means more opportunities for the virus to transmit,” he points out.
“In other words, a higher viral load is transmitted, resulting in more severe disease. This consideration is not unique to HFMD, but we see it in influenza, pertussis and chickenpox, too.”
The virus is found in the infected child’s saliva. “So as the child speaks, the virus spreads,” he explains, adding that any surface that the infected child touches will also be exposed to the virus.
But it wouldn’t be practical to dress yourself and your infected child in gowns and gloves to prevent catching the virus.
As there is no vaccine yet, your only consolation is that the risk of an adult getting infected with HFMD is a low 1 to 5 per cent. Experts advise frequent and thorough hand-washing, too.
“Doctor! My nails seem to be falling off! Is that normal?” “Yes. That happens sometimes,” was all he said. Okay, so I figured that he omitted mentioning this somewhat disturbing phenomenon so as not to cause premature panic attacks.
Over time, my toenails and fingernails dislodged. I freaked out. The discomfort was more pronounced on the fingers, probably because they are more visible to the eye. Without my fingernail, I discovered that any prying action, such as opening a canned drink, was no longer an easy task. Even peeling stickers from my son’s sticker book took time.
The most painful part of this naildropping encounter wasn’t the exposed nail bed; it was the period when the nail was peeling off, but still attached to the skin.
Inadvertently, things such as hair and tissue paper got trapped in between and caused sudden pain. I wrapped surgical tape around all my fingernails and it made my life so much better.
Then, there was my hair, which fell out in clumps. When I realised that nothing could be done to prevent it, my heart dropped. I cried for a few days because my hair is thin by nature. I braced myself for the worst and my kind doctor reminded me that it would all come to pass.
As I write this in late May, my nails are now growing back. I am definitely looking forward to a well-deserved manicure and pedicure – hopefully by September. I’m discovering, albeit slowly, that time does indeed heal all wounds.
