The investigation into the illnesses and deaths in Cambodia, which
mainly affected very young children, concluded that a severe form of
hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) was the cause in the majority of
cases reported to the Ministry of Health.
The investigation revealed that most of the cases were under 3
years of age, from 14 different provinces, with some suffering from
chronic conditions. A significant number of cases had been treated with
steroids at some point during their illness. Steroid use has been shown
to worsen the condition of patients with EV-71.
The Ministry of Health, with support from WHO and partners, which
included Institut Pasteur du Cambodge and the US Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, conducted the investigation following reports
from Kantha Bopha Children’s hospital of unusual numbers of illness and
deaths among children hospitalised since April 2012.
In response to this event, health centers have been instructed by the
Ministry of Health to report all patients with HFMD. In addition, the
Ministry of Health, assisted by WHO, has begun enhanced surveillance for
neuro-respiratory syndrome, a key syndrome observed among patients with
severe HFMD caused by EV-71. It is expected that the enhanced
surveillance will identify occasional new cases of the severe form of
the disease in the coming months.
In addition, the Ministry of Health is developing guidelines and
training courses for staff to manage patients with mild and severe forms
of HFMD.
A campaign to raise awareness on the prevention, identification and care of children with HFMD is underway.
World Health Organization: Global Alert and Response (GAR) , July 13, 2012
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