ONE mother allowed her son to play in a condo swimming pool.

Another took her daughter to Malaysia on holiday.

Both could have been suffering from Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) at the time.

Some parents have been bochap (Hokkien for don't care) in allowing kids with HFMD into places where they can spread the highly contagious disease.

A check with six doctors revealed that some parents had approached them to seek 'clearance' to allow children with HFMD to travel.

And all this even as the Ministry of Health (MOH) continues to caution parents to keep their infected children away from public or crowded places.

An MOH spokesman told The New Paper: 'There is no law that penalises the parents but they should be more socially responsible.' (See report on facing page.)

Administrative executive Rachel Koh, 39, said she was upset when she saw her 6-year-old son's classmate at their condominium's swimming pool last week.

It was a day after her son had returned home with the news that the classmate was down with HFMD.

Said Madam Koh, who also has a 3-year-old daughter: 'The boy was playing in the pool with four others.

'I learned from the maid later that the child's mother had organised a party to cheer her son up.

'It's really ridiculous and there's nothing we can do about it, except keep our own kids away.'

The 6-year-old girl who travelled to Malaysia with her mother was given medical leave and told to stay home after the preschool centre suspected she could have HFMD.

A teacher said: 'During our regular checks (on 23 May), we noticed that the student had rashes on the palms of her hands.

'While there were no other symptoms, we chose to send her home as a precautionary measure.'

The centre was among those that had earlier closed voluntarily for 10 days because of HFMD. It also extended its school term by another three days.

TOLD TO STAY HOME

The girl was given two days' medical leave and advised to stay home for observation.

She also had to return to the doctor for a review.

Said the teacher: 'On Monday, when the girl did not come to school, we called her home to check on her condition.'

It was then she found out that the girl was in Malaysia with her mother.

'When we questioned her father (who did not travel with them), he said they were quite sure their daughter was not down with HFMD,' said the teacher.

But the father also admitted that they did not obtain any confirmation from the doctor.

When the school holidays started a week ago, some parents approached doctors to seek clearance for their infected children so the family could travel.

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