Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Latest News

The national capital is experiencing a significant rise in Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) cases, especially among children.

About Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

• It is a common viral illness that usually affects infants and children but can also affect adults. 
• Most adults have strong enough immune systems to defend the virus, but those with immune deficiencies are very susceptible.
• It tends to spread quickly among children in daycare and schools.
• The most common cause of HFMD is Coxsackie virus A16.
• It is often confused with foot-and-mouth (also called hoof-and-mouth) disease, a disease of cattle, sheep, and swine; however, the two diseases are not related—they are caused by different viruses.
• Symptoms of hand-foot-and-mouth disease include sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet.
• There’s no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth disease. 
• Most people get better in 7 to 10 days.
• Complications from HFMD are rare.
• Rarely, the patient with Coxsackie virus A16 infection may also develop viral (“aseptic”) meningitis in which the person has fever, headache, stiff neck, or back pain and may need to be hospitalized for a few days.

Source: NIE

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