A POTENTIALLY fatal disease has cropped up in daycares across the US, putting children at risk.
Public health officials have announced that hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) has been detected in day cares, and parents have been left wondering what signs to look out for.
HMFD is a mild illness that is caused by viruses and is most often seen in children under five.
It should not be confused with foot and mouth disease which affects farm animals.
Earlier this year, there were six outbreaks in Virginia, according to an alert published by the Fairfax County Health District.
According to the US Virgin Islands Department of Health, there have been 189 confirmed cases in St Thomas, including one possible infection that proved fatal.
As the risk of the disease being potentially fatal, it is important to know the signs of HFMD.
What are the symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease?
The symptoms of HFMD appear in two stages.
The first symptoms which appear for the illness are commonly a sore throat, high temperature, and a lack of appetite.
From there, children may develop second-stage symptoms such as mouth ulcers and raised spots, which look like rashes on their hands and feet, and potentially the groin area.
These spots look red and inflamed and can turn into blisters, causing children a lot of pain.
The symptoms are the same for adults and children.
How is hand, food and mouth disease transmitted?
HFMD cases peak in the summer, due to the higher humidity promoting the virus' survival and also the higher chance of exposure.
It is a highly contagious disease and can be caught from droplets from sneezing, coughing, or talking.
As a result, it can also be caught from surfaces where the viral droplets have landed, meaning schools and day care centers are potentially high-risk areas.
Furthermore, the fluid from blisters or faecal matter can also carry the sickness.
Board-certified doctor who shares medical information of TikTok, Dr. Sood, warned of the potential risk of one commonly used item.
In a video Dr. Sood reacted to a woman putting her toddler in a shopping cart and later ending up with HFMD.
Doctors have also warned that caregivers should try not to hug or kiss children who are infected, in order to prevent infection.
People suffering from HFMD should be kept at home and take over-the-counter pain medications.
How to treat hand, foot and mouth disease
The symptoms of HFMD usually last for about seven to ten days, and they can be treated with paracetamol or ibuprofen to help ease a sore mouth or throat.
However there are also some other remedies.
Because they might have sores in their mouths, it's important to try and force children to drink water so they aren't dehydrated.
It is recommended that those with the disease drink cool fluids to soothe the mouth and prevent dehydration (but avoid acidic drinks, such as fruit juice).
They should also eat soft foods like yoghurt and avoid hot, salty and spicy foods.
