Common Infectious Diseases in Filipino Children

Infectious diseases are conditions caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Some kinds of infectious illnesses can be transmitted from person to person – we call these
communicable diseases. On the other hand, some infectious disorders spread through direct contact,
mosquito bites, or consumption of contaminated food. Below are the most common infectious diseases in
Filipino children.

Schools can play a major role in helping to reduce or prevent the incidence of illness among
children and adults in our communities. Encouraging good hand hygiene and following cleaning
recommendations contribute to a safe and healthy learning environment for children. When schools
report illness to their local health department (LHD), public health specialists can assist schools with
disease prevention and control guidance. Department of Health (DOH) provides schools with general
information on what steps they can take to prevent and control communicable disease.

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD)

 According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a
common infectious disease that occurs most often in children. It is a highly contagious viral
infection with an incubation period of two (2) to fourteen (14) days and with common symptoms of
fever, painful sores in the mouth, and a rash with blisters on hands, feet and buttocks'
 According to the Philippine Red Cross, HFMD is transmitted through contact with nose and throat
discharges and saliva of infected persons and contaminated objects. It is also acquired through
the virus, if children get contact with the skin lesions of an HFMD-infected person
 With the very alarming fast transmission of the HFMD cases all over our regions, there is a
pressing need to act immediately and avert the spread of the disease in the country;
 with this in view, it is the duty of the government to ensure that Congress formulate appropriate
and reactive policies responsive to address health issues brought by HFMD

Treatment
There's no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth disease. The treatment is symptomatic,
meaning it is geared towards alleviation of symptoms. Antipyretics are given for fever and pain.
Hydration is also warranted.

Prevention
1. Frequent and proper handwashing.
2. Avoiding close contact with people who have hand-foot-and-mouth disease may help lower risk of
infection.
3. Wearing masks to avoid the transmission of the virus from respiratory droplets.
4. Covering the mouth if with cough and colds.
5. Using alcohol for disinfection.

Republic Act No. 11332, or the "Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public
Health Concern Act”

Reporting and Monitoring

1. Learners or personnel noted to have the signs and symptoms described to be that of HFMD
should report themselves and seek medical consultation with the clinic teacher/nurse/medical
officer/health care professional.
2. HFMD is a notifiable disease under Republic Act No. 11332. This is an act providing policies and
prescribing procedures on surveillance and response to notifiable diseases, epidemics, and
health events of public health concern, and appropriating funds therefore, repealing the purpose
of Republic Act No. 3573, otherwise known as the "Law on Reporting of Communicable
 diseases." It is therefore the responsibility of all schools to report accurately and immediately this
notifiable disease to the nearest health facility or the city epidemiologic and surveillance unit and
to the division office, school health and nutrition, infectious disease focal person.
3. Mandatory notification must be done within 24 hours of diagnosis via telephone, filling in of
notification form (digital/or paper). Laboratory confirmation is not required for notification.
4. Data privacy shall strictly be implemented on collecting data on reporting and monitoring HFMD
cases.

Infection Control

Precautionary measures in the school setting if there is a confirmed case of HFMD at school:
1. Disinfect the classroom especially tabletops, desks, chairs, doorknobs and common areas within
24 hours using bleach solution. Proper handwashing before, during and after class is
encouraged. Frequent hand rub with 70% alcohol is also encouraged.
2. Proper handwashing before, during and after class is encouraged. Frequent hand rub with 70 %
alcohol is also encouraged.
3. Encourage proper wearing of face masks.
4. Symptomatic learners are not allowed to go to school. Clearance is required from their attending
physician noting fitness to resume classes/work.
5. Asymptomatic learners are allowed to go to school however with constant monitoring of
symptoms.
6. If symptoms are noted to develop while in school, patient with HFMD should be isolated and the
usual isolation procedures for infection control are to be followed.

Management of Outbreaks

The occurrence of two or more cases in the same locality within the incubation period is
considered as an outbreak.
Organization based outbreak may occur if there are two or more cases with onset in a two-week
interval in a group which makes epidemiological sense.
Surveillance data on HFMD cases should be reviewed on a continuous basis to identify cases
and detect outbreaks. Once detected, the following measures should be carried out:

1. Infected learners remain away from the institution for at least ten days or until asymptomatic.
2. Parents should screen their children before coming to class.
3. Principals, teachers, personnel shall be alerted to look out for symptomatic cases.
4. After review of reported cases and trends, the School Health and Nutrition Unit Head shall
recommend through granular lock down for environmental sanitation and disinfection within 24
hours of the school where an outbreak is declared.
5. Asymptomatic learners shall be provided with alternative learning modality or classes may be
shifted to distance learning while disinfection is going on. Face-to-face classes shall resume after
disinfection.
6. Health education to the school on proper and good personal hygiene.
DepEd MEMORANDUM No. 152, s. 2011

"Preventing Dengue in Schools to Ensure that Schools Regularly Conduct Vector Measures to Eliminate
Mosquitoes in the School Environment."

To All School Heads, Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries Bureau Directors Directors of Services,
Centers, and Heads of Units Regional Directors Schools Division/City Superintendents Heads, Public and
Private Elementary and Secondary Schools All Others Concerned Health and Nutrition Personnel, DRRM
Coordinators

1. The Department of Education (DepEd) supports the Department of Health's (DOH's) 2011
Campaign Against Dengue, which revolves around the theme, "Eskwelahan, Simbahan,
Barangay, Palengke at Buong Komunidad, Sama-Sama Nating Sugpuin ang Dengue."

2. This Memorandum is being issued to emphasize the urgency of the anti-dengue drive through
the 4S Strategy - which stands for Search and destroy, Seek early consultation, Self-protective
measures, and Say "no" to indiscriminate fogging. It also reiterates and enforces previous
Memoranda on dengue to protect the school populace from this disease which occurs
throughout the year but it is especially rampant during the rainy season, when aedes aegypti
mosquitoes rapidly proliferate.

3. School officials are enjoined to mobilize all school health and nutrition personnel to disseminate
information on the prevention and control of Dengue H-Fever in support of this campaign and in
observance of the "Dengue Awareness Month" in June of every year and the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Dengue Day on June 15 each year.

4. It also reiterates and enforces previous memoranda on dengue to protect the school populace
from this disease which is evident throughout the year but is especially rampant during the rainy
season, when the aedes aegypti mosquitoes rapidly proliferate.
5. This division is requested to reinforce the implementation of the "Sabayang 4 o'clock Habit para
sa Deng- Get Out: a Clean- Up drive for the prevention and eradication of Dengue and other
Epidemic." All DepEd offices and schools are enjoined to participate and perform the following
activities:
 Conduct of Sabayang 4 o'clock Habit para Deng - Get Out activity every Friday.
a) At exactly 4 o'clock, a bell/ siren must be rung (4) four times in schools
b) b. All DepEd personnel and learners must get out of their offices/ classrooms
once the bell/siren is ringing and join in the search and destroy activity.
 The Sabayang 4 o'clock Habit para Deng - Get Out activity shall include, but not limited to,
the following tasks:
a. Search for stagnant water and destroy breeding places.
b. Make sure that all water sources are flowing.
 c. Overturn/ Drain containers that can hold stagnant water such as
discarded tires, vases, dish racks, pails, botties, buckets, cans, coconut
husks, etc.
d. Cover clean water containers such as drums, buckets, pails, bottles, etc.
e. Scrub thoroughly the surfaces of water containers once a week.
f. Don't let water go stagnant in untended pools, birdbaths, rain gutters,
plastic wading pools, etc.
g. Clean stagnant canals. Remove garbage and waste that can clog the
drainage.
h. Clean the gutters of the facility/ building.
i. Declutter/ dispose junk, garbage, and plastics properly.
j. Maintain the cleanliness of the surroundings.

6. To achieve the whole of community approach, all DepEd personnel and learners are enjoined to
participate in this activity. The Division and School DRRM coordinators in coordination with the
School Health unit shall lead and ensure the implementation of this activity.

7. Immediate dissemination of this memorandum is desired