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The recent holidays were a stressful one for the family of Sunshine Garcia and Bulacan vice governor Alex Castro after their three children contracted hand, foot and mouth disease or HFMD for short.

Related gallery: Sunshine Garcia and Alex Castro's sweetest photos

Based on the information from my.cleveland.clinic.org, hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a very contagious illness. It gets its name from the blister-like rash that forms on your child's hands and feet and painful sores that develop in their mouth. The rash can appear anywhere on body, including the chest, back, arms, legs, genitals and buttocks.

Infants and children younger than five are most likely to get hand, foot and mouth disease.

The SexBomb Girls member posted last January 2 on Facebook her ordeal dealing with and taking care of Axel, Alexander, and Alynna who was born last January 2025.

“Iniisip ko kung ipo-post ko ito or hindi pero gusto ko din maging aware ang ibang parents. Nagkaroon sila ng HFMD (Hand, Foot Mouth Disease) buti na lang vacation na nung lumabas, family na lang kasama at sila na lang ang kids,” Sunshine shared.

“Na- ask ako sa pedia namin at nasabi niya na [two] weeks na nila nakuha yan bago lumabas. So before Christmas naglabasan na nga at nakaka stress na [tatlo] silang nagkaroon. San nila nakuha? Hindi din namin alam, isa pa lang ang pumapasok sa school, once a week lang namin silang nilalabas kapag family day at dinadala sa Play Area para makapag laro. Sobrang arte namin pagdating sa kanila pero minsan hindi talaga maiiwasan.

“Buti na lang at super bait at madaling matawagan ang Doc nila (Thank you Doc. Arlene) nabigyan sila ng gamot at vitamins para lumakas ang immune system nila kaagad. As soon na napansin namin naka isolate na sila hindi na namin hinahayaan na makalapit sila sa ibang kids at in-explain namin sa kanila kung bakit buti na lang din talaga at naiintindihan na nila. Alam nila na pwede sila makahawa sa ibang kids kaya ayaw din nila.”

Mommy Sunshine also reminded parents to be vigilant and seek medical help if they find some rashes or blisters on the bodies of their children.

Mrs. Castro stressed, “So mga Mommies and Daddies pag nakita n'yo na may ganitong parang rashes or sugat ang anak na makikita sa talampakan, kamay, bibig, paa even sa throat nila magkakaroon ip-acheck n'yo agad sa Doc at wag muna ilabas ang mga kiddos hanggat di natutuyo ang mga sugat nila, para di na muna din makahawa ng iba.

“No more play area na muna siguro kami sa ngayon bilang usong uso ang sakit, kawawa ang mga kids. Hindi rin naman nadi-disenfect kaagad yung nilalaruan ng mga bata.

“Ingat na lang din mahirap pag sila nag may sakit talaga.

“Sa mga friend or family na may kids, wag n'yo muna halikan, kargahin, or hawakan ang mga bata lalo na kung galing kayo sa labas or may nararamdaman kayo. Hindi sa pagiging maarte 'yun, kailangan din silang ingatan.”

Aside from her three offsprings with Alex, the couple also have two older sons, Ching and Ashton. They tied the knot back in March 2019.

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