Children with infectious diseases such as hand-foot-and-mouth disease, which are prevalent in the summer, the smallest in 10 years

Patients with infectious diseases of children who have epidemics in the summer such as hand-foot-and-mouth disease.

The number of patients with infectious diseases that prevail in the summer over the last 10 years, such as the number of patients with hand-foot-and-mouth disease that prevail among children every summer during the last 10 years The least was found in a survey by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases. Experts believe that the new coronavirus measures have been effective, but cautioned that the contacts necessary for children's development may be reduced.

"Hand-foot-and-mouth disease" that causes a rash on the hands, feet, mouth, etc., "Herpangina" that causes fever and blisters in the mouth, and "pharyngeal conjunctival fever" that causes fever and conjunctivitis and is also called "pool fever" are both It is a viral infectious disease that spreads mainly in children every summer.

According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the number of hand-foot-and-mouth disease cases reported by approximately 3000 pediatric medical institutions nationwide was 385 in one week until the 19th of this month. Compared to nearly 40,000, it was about 1/100.

Herpangina has about one-seventh of the cases and pharyngeal conjunctival fever has about one-third of all, with all three infectious diseases being the lowest in the last decade.

In recent years, the number of patients with respiratory syncytial virus infection, which causes cold-like symptoms that often start to spread in the summer, has fallen to about 1/40 of last year.

Tsuneo Morishima, a visiting professor at Aichi Medical University, who is familiar with infectious diseases in children, said that these infectious diseases, like the new coronavirus, spread through flying and contact, so disinfection and measures to reduce contact with people are effective. I see.

On the other hand, visiting professor Morishima said, "For the development of children, it is important to take sufficient measures against infections and to engage with children and nursery teachers as much as possible".