Prince George’s County Public Schools say over 40 schools in the district have reported cases of hand, foot and mouth disease as of Thursday.
The viral illness is common among young children but it can affect anyone. Symptoms include fever, sore throat, poor appetite and other cold-like symptoms.
Symptoms usually start one to two days before painful sores in the mouth and a red rash could appear. The rash and/or sores could develop into blisters or ulcers on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Most people have symptoms for seven to 10 days.
Doctors say it’s typical for people to see cases of the disease during the summer and this time of the year, early fall.
People mostly get the disease through person-to-person contact, doctors say. It’s contagious especially someone coughs, sneezes or talks. There is no special treatment for the disease but doctors say Tylenol and ibuprofen can help manage the fever and pain.
How to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease
- Wash hands well, especially after going to the bathroom, changing diapers, and/or handling diapers or other stool-soiled material.
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
- Washing toys and other surfaces that have saliva on them.
- Exclude children from child care or school settings if the child has a fever, uncontrollable “hand to mouth” behavior, not able to contain their secretions, such as ulcers in the mouth and the child is drooling, or draining sores that cannot be covered.
Prince George’s County Public Schools officials say to contact your healthcare provider if you think you or your child has the disease.
