Hand, foot and mouth disease, which causes blisters on the hands, feet and mouth due to enterovirus infection, has recently shown signs of spreading, mainly among infants and toddlers. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency urged strict personal hygiene and adherence to preventive guidelines at homes, day care centers and kindergartens where young children spend time.
According to the agency on the 5th, sentinel surveillance for hand, foot and mouth disease found that in week 22 of this year (May 25–31), the number of cases was 4.3 per 1,000 outpatients. It increased for three straight weeks after 1.7 in week 20 and 2.3 in week 21.
In particular, the number of hand, foot and mouth disease patients has steadily risen over the past month, with the week 22 total about 4.8 times higher than in week 18 (0.9). Among 0–6-year-old infants and toddlers, the rate was 5.9 per 1,000, about twice the previous week's 2.9.
Considering that hand, foot and mouth disease increases every May and tends to be prevalent from June to September, the agency projected that cases will continue to rise for the time being.
Hand, foot and mouth disease is an acute viral infection caused by enterovirus. It can spread through direct contact with a patient's secretions such as saliva, phlegm, nasal discharge and fluid from blisters, or with feces, or by touching contaminated objects. The hallmark symptoms are vesicular rashes on the hands, feet and inside the mouth, and fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea and vomiting may accompany them.
For prevention, thoroughly follow personal hygiene rules such as always washing hands after going out and before and after meals, before and after changing diapers, and after caring for a patient. Clothing and items contaminated with a patient's excreta should be laundered and disinfected.
Most patients improve after 3–4 days and recover within 7–10 days, but complications such as meningitis or encephalitis can occur rarely. The agency recommended that people visit a medical institution for care if they develop suspected symptoms and refrain from using multiuse facilities.
Day care centers, kindergartens and schools should strengthen disinfection of facilities and shared items that children frequently touch, such as toys, play equipment and doorknobs. They should also teach personal hygiene rules such as handwashing and advise infants, toddlers and students with hand, foot and mouth disease to stay home until they recover.
Im Seung-gwan, commissioner of the agency, said, "Please ensure thorough hygiene management at child care facilities and schools, including proper handwashing and disinfection of items, and guide infants, toddlers and students with hand, foot and mouth disease to return only after they have fully recovered."