The Hamilton County Health Department is reporting an uptick in cases of hand, foot and mouth disease as children settle into the new school year.
The viral infection typically causes fever, painful mouth sores, and a skin rash. Stephen Miller, Health Officer with the Hamilton County Health Department, says the illness is especially common this time of year.
“It’s a very common virus that children experience this time of year, usually when they’re starting their school year,” Miller explained.
The illness is most often seen in children around kindergarten through second grade. Miller says it can spread quickly through classrooms.
“It can spread through a classroom and infect the entire classroom within just a few days,” he said.
The virus spreads through coughs, sneezes, and by touching contaminated surfaces. Symptoms generally appear three to six days after initial exposure and may include blisters on the hands and feet, ulcers in the mouth, or rashes on the chest and arms.
There is no specific treatment, and symptoms subside over the course of 7 to 10 days, but over-the-counter medications can help reduce fever and ease pain. According to Miller, once symptoms subside, children can return to school.
“The little mouth ulcers and the fever—once that’s resolved, about 24 hours later they can go back to school,” he noted.
As the seasons begin to change, health officials urge families to focus on prevention.
“If you want to protect your kids, really go over hand washing—vitally important,”* Miller said. “Definitely want to avoid the sharing of food and drinks with classmates. Just make sure everyone is taking precautions.”
Adults can also contract the virus, though the symptoms are much more mild and typically consist of just a rash.
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