Talk:Hand, foot, and mouth disease

This article is or was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Anthony Flippen, Apelle1 (article contribs).

Introduction

I haven't ever edited before, but I just wanted to let someone know that the last line of the introductory section is inaccurate. There have been cases of Foot and Mouth transmitted to humans from animals, though it is very rare. Just wanted to let someone know. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.16.104.84 (talk) 14:23, 15 April 2014 (UTC)

You would need to provide a reliable source to back that statement up to be included in the article. Hoof and mouth that affects animals is different from HFM that affects humans.MartinezMD (talk) 15:40, 15 April 2014 (UTC)

Ok, here are some sources:

1. "Foot and Mouth Disease update: further temporary control zone established in Surrey". Defra. 2007-08-14. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-08-14
2. Jeffery, Simon (2001-11-23). "Foot and Mouth Disease". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 2007-08-14.
3. Jeffery, Simon (2001-11-23). "Foot and mouth 'killed people in 1800s'". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-08-14.

These sources are used on the Foot and Mouth Wikipedia Article. I just thought it odd that two Wikipedia articles would provide conflicting information, so I just wanted to let someone know. Ranothil (talk) 21:15, 15 April 2014 (UTC)

Got it and updated the article. Thanks for your information.MartinezMD (talk) 05:58, 16 April 2014 (UTC)

You're Welcome! Ranothil (talk) 12:50, 16 April 2014 (UTC)

Seriousness?

What is the typical seriousness / severity of this? My son's daycare has a case, and I'm generally assuming that it's not usually a risky disease. However, the "recorded outbreaks" section shows three major outbreaks with many deaths, and that doesn't really give one a great deal of confidence.

Perhaps a line or two is in order about the typical course of infection, frequency of severe complications, etc... because as it stands this article almost makes it look far more serious than it probably is. [I'd do it myself, but I'm running short on time this morning...maybe later. And all I'd be doing is rephrasing the CDC page, ultimately, so I'd prefer to leave it for someone more knowlegable...] Dschuetz 12:01, 5 May 2006 (UTC)

I added some stats. The complication rate is actually very low in relative terms (405 in 1.5 million), but 400 kids is still a lot. JFW | T@lk 03:21, 7 May 2006 (UTC)

It can be quite serious to young children and unborn babies. Where I live, a child was banned from elementary school because she had this disease and her mother forced her to go to school. Two teachers were pregnant, so there were fears for their health. I wish people would stop going to public places when they have contagious diseases.

How Long Has This Existed?

I hadn't heard of this disease until a year or so ago. I'd be interested to know when it was first medically described, and whether it is believed that this is a new disease, or just a new name for something that has been around much longer. The oldest mention I found was a 1975 description of a 1973 outbreak 1973.

HFMD is a coxsackievirus. See [[1]] Someone might want to edit to include some history or a reference to the wiki page for Coxsackievirus History section. Victorsteelballs (talk) 11:26, 16 July 2012 (UTC)

minor edit

removed "During June 2009,this disease is reported at Kottayam in the southern state of Kerala in India.So many children are infected." from the bottom of the references. Someone can delete this comment if it is OK -- it didn't fit and didn't have any sources. GMoonit (talk) 06:22, 26 July 2009 (UTC)

Chronology

I think there're more outbreaks in Singapore throughout the years at epidemic levels than reported in state media and in Wiki

Lists of Outbreaks

Are really unnecessary in encyclopedia article unless they are particularly notable as they number in the hundreds to thousands world-wide and offer little to the article. I think leaving the current year and any that are of particular interest (unusual mortality or association) would be appropriate.MartinezMD (talk) 23:49, 14 May 2012 (UTC)

I don't know if this would qualify as a significant outbreak. See article at http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/nm/hand-foot-and-mouth-disease-kills-17-in-china-xinhua Perhaps someone could address this?Victorsteelballs (talk) 11:07, 16 July 2012 (UTC)

I agree that the list of outbreaks might not be notable. JFW | T@lk 18:49, 20 October 2013 (UTC)

I also agree that the list is given undue weight in this article and that the section should at least be shortened. I'll work on cutting it down and perhaps leave only the major outbreaks discussed widely in the news. More epidemiology discussion from the medical literature would strengthen the section more than a list of outbreaks. TylerDurden8823 (talk) 08:15, 30 May 2014 (UTC)

Bullet list in "signs and symptoms"

As per this MOS item, perhaps the bullet point list should be rewritten into prose, and perhaps even with an indication how common each individual symptom is. JFW | T@lk 18:49, 20 October 2013 (UTC)

Fixed. :) TylerDurden8823 (talk) 08:13, 30 May 2014 (UTC)

History

Can someone expand this history section a bit? Maybe we can include more about coxsackie viruses etc. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mjbailey (talk • contribs) 00:09, 25 February 2015 (UTC)

I will expand further into the history section. There are some interesting facts and locations where the disease has been notably present.