KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A contagious and painful disease is gaining momentum in the Midwest.
Kansas and parts of Missouri are seeing more cases of hand, foot and mouth disease. It's a virus that causes people who get it to have painful blisters on their hands, feet and in their mouths. It spreads when someone touches a blister or breaths droplets from an infected person's breath.
Kansas City, Missouri, Pediatrician Dr. Natasha Burgert, with Pediatric Associates, said, unfortunately, the only thing to do is treat the patient's pain with over-the-counter pain medicine and let the disease run its course which is 7 to 10 days.
It is more common in children younger than 10, but adults can get it too. Fall and winter outbreaks of hand, food, and mouth disease are typical because children are typically inside schools and daycare centers with other children who may be infected with the virus.
The symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease are:
- Red painful blisters on feet, hands, and in the mouth
- rash
- Sore throat
- Loss of appetite
Keeping your hands washed reduces your risk of getting Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease.
