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Virginia is seeing a surge in cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease, according to the state’s department of health. Reports show steep increases in visits to urgent care and emergency departments compared to the past 3 years, reaching a peak of about 4% of visits in recent weeks. The state is tracking about 60 reported outbreaks. Additionally, the District of Columbia has reported 197 emergency department visits related to the disease in September, primarily among children younger than 5, as reported by its health department. Patients may start with a low-grade fever, reduced appetite, and rash or blisters, and in a care setting, mouth or throat pain is a common presenting symptom. The exanthem can involve the hands, feet, buttocks, legs, and arms, while oral lesions tend to involve buccal and tongue ulcers.
No treatment: Especially contagious, viral hand, foot, and mouth disease usually affects infants and children, and it typically resolves within 7 to 10 days. The diagnosis is made clinically, and there are no specific treatments other than treating the symptoms.