The late summer and early fall isn't just back-to-school time., it's also when doctors see an increase in the number of hand-foot-and-mouth disease cases.
This year, some parts of the country saw large increases in the number of cases, although Dr. Kari Simonsen with UNMC and Children's Hospital says they usually expect lots of cases this time of year. "It is seasonal, so it is something that we see year to year and this year's not really unique in that."
Simonsen says the contagious viral infection's name is a dead giveaway to its symptoms. "We call it hand-foot-and-mouth disease because the classic rash does involve mouth blisters, and then either red spots or even blisters on the hands and feet. But that rash on the body can involve more than just the hands and feet." Symptoms can also include fever, sore throat, and respiratory or gastrointestinal issues as well.
The disease can be passed not only by being exposed to infected bodily fluids, such as mucus or feces, but through surfaces as well. "The virus is also environmentally hearty. So you can also catch it if you're in contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. Doorknobs, kitchen counter tops, that kind of thing."
Simonsen says protecting yourself from the virus is easy. "The best way to avoid infection is to wash your hands, especially if you're taking care of a sick child. If you do have someone in your household who's sick with what you think is hand-foot-and-mouth, do consider the environment in your household, again, because the virus can survive on surfaces."