As if showbiz personality
Kris Aquino’s life wasn’t jam-packed enough what with
her annulment blues and
her departure from noontime show Pilipinas Win na Win, the actress has now been diagnosed with hand-foot-and-mouth disease along with her two kids,
PEP.ph reports. In her official Twitter account,
Kris says , “Josh caught foot & mouth disease.
Nahawa Bimby & me. I don't have the sores around the mouth or the rashes
sa hands & feet but my fever went up to 40 last night. We r all taking Zoverax & Immunosin.” Kris and her family will stay in their condominium until they recover from the ailment.
According to Mayoclinic.com, hand-foot-and-mouth disease—not to be confused with foot-and-mouth disease, which affects animals—is “a mild, contagious viral infection common in young children [characterized] by sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet.” It is usually
contracted in the potty training stage by children who often put their hands in their mouths. No specific treatment is given to cure the disease, but can be avoided through proper hygiene. Kris's is a rare condition as this disease is hardly seen in adults.
With busy lifestyles and because we are often in contact with other people, it’s easy to forget taking basic precautions to keep healthy. Here are a few tips to keep in mind for protecting yourself as you go about a demanding workday.
1. KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEANWash your hands before and after you use the bathroom. Keeping a small bottle of rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer in your purse will ensure that your hands are kept clean even when you use public bathrooms. You might also want to consider bringing antibacterial wipes or a regular stock of tissues.
2. YOUR HANKY IS NOT FOR SNEEZING (WIPING YOUR SWEAT AND ALL THAT JAZZ) To you, your hanky isn’t just an accessory—it’s a personal all-purpose rag. One minute you’re using it to quickly wipe the dust off your desk, the next you’re sneezing into it and mopping the sweat off your neck! Admit it. You’ve done this least once. Throw away the hanky and pack your bag with tissues instead. Don’t forget to throw them away as soon as you’re done using them (and wash your hands after)—they’re disposable for a reason.
3. WATCH WHAT YOU TOUCHYou know where your hands have been but you don’t know about others’ so be cautious when you shake hands with an acquaintance or engage in
beso-beso. This isn't limited to just your hands too. Make sure to double check utensils when eating at fast food places. If you’re unsure if your drinking glass is clean, try using a straw.
4. DON’T BE PART OF THE CROWDIf you can, stay away from crowded places. The chances of catching the flu or touching dirty objects increases when there are more people around. We’re not saying you should isolate yourself, though. We know it’s hard not to get jostled if you’re battling it out with your fellow commuters in the MRT, but if there’s an alternative and it won’t inconvenience you, give it a try.
5. KEEP YOUR PERSONAL ITEMS CLEANYour eyeglasses, cellphone, iPod, and wallet are all rich sources of bacteria so make sure to clean them regularly. There’s no point in washing your hands when your cellphone clearly isn’t and you’ve been holding it for the last three hours.
(Photos courtesy of PEP.ph)
