(Provided by the Summit County Health Department)
This illness is non-serious, but especially uncomfortable and it typically affects infants and older children during the summer and fall seasons.
It is caused by viruses named Coxsackie, named for the town in New York where it was first discovered.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease usually begins with a moderate fever, but it gets its peculiar name from the parts of the body it involves.
Small, round blisters develop inside the mouth, usually on the tongue and in the inside of the cheeks, but they can also appear on the lips, gums, and roof of the mouth. Small round fluid-filled blisters may also appear on the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet and between the fingers and toes.
Blisters begin to break out in one to two days in a variety of places. The illness can last up to two weeks. In children, the mouth sores can suppress the child's appetite and make chewing uncomfortable.
Because Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease is a virus, antibiotics do not help. The fever can be reduced with pain-relieving medications such as Tylenol and other brands. Children should drink plenty of cold fluids, or have frozen juice pops or ice cubes.
There is no vaccine for Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, making prevention difficult. During widespread epidemics, it is almost impossible to avoid contact with the virus which is spread through droplets produced by a cough or a sneeze, or through contaminated feces, water or food.
Frequent hand washing may reduce the risk of contracting the virus.