UCSI Hospital provides special ward to treat children with HFMD

PORT DICKSON, May 23 (Bernama) -- Following the significant spike in Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) cases in the country, the UCSI Hospital here has taken the initiative to provide a special ward to treat infected children.

Its Medical And Paediatrics director, Professor Dr Amaluddin Ahmad said Ward 3A which started operating since last Friday is capable of accommodating patients following the spike in HFMD cases, especially among children in Negeri Sembilan and neighbouring states.

“It is equipped with 20 beds with 11 staff including specialists doctors. The charges are as low as RM200 and not exceeding RM5,000 depending on the seriousness of the illness.

“Most of the cases treated have light symptoms and we monitor in terms of treating fever, dehydration, nutrition and ulcers in the mouth.

“At the same time, we also monitor to determine if they have symptoms in other organs such as lungs and heart,” he told reporters here today.

State Health, Environment, Co-operatives and Consumerism Committee chairman, S. Veerapan recently was reported as saying that Negeri Sembilan recorded 2,249 cases of the disease from January to May 19, a significant hike compared to the same period last year.

In the meantime, Dr Amaluddin said that most HFMD cased occurred among babies and children of up to 12 years but there were cases reported where those older were infected.

As such, he advised parents to always monitor the health of their children and not send them to schools or care centres if they experienced symptoms of HFMD such as fever, ulcer in the mouth or blisters on the hands or legs.

He said the hospital also conducted campaigns to check HFMD including on social media, via webinars and at kindergartens in the district to foster continuous awareness among the community on the disease.

For queries or advisory services on HFMD from the hospital, the public can call 06-6488888 or to go immediately to the hospital.

-- BERNAMA