Area doctors see spike in Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease cases
Amy Dillon, nurse practitioner in the Connellsville Office of Pediatric Associates of Westmoreland, said in the 18 years of being in practice, this year has been the worst for Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease.
“Both the amount of people we are seeing as well as the severity of the cases have been worse than ever before,” she said, adding that the last two weeks were the worst, with things slowing down a bit this last week.
According to the Center for Disease Control, the contagious virus is most common in infants and children ages 5 years and younger, and presents symptoms including painful mouth sores that usually begin as flat red spots. a rash of flat red spots that may blister on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and sometimes the knees, elbows, buttocks, and/or genital area; fever, and reduced appetite.
Dr. David Patton with Cherry Tree Pediatrics in Uniontown said his office has also been seeing a spike in cases of the virus.
“This is an illness caused by a virus, Coxsackievirus to be specific, and there are many strains of this virus, so it’s not unusual for someone who has had it in the past to get it again,” he said. “Sometimes we’ll see classic cases where there is a fever, blisters around the mouth and sores in the back of their throats, and blisters or sores on their hands and feet, but sometimes, there are additional places the rash shows up. Sometimes we only see some of the symptoms.”
Dr. Gregg Nezowitz, area medical director for Med Express, said centers in southwestern Pennsylvania have seen an increase in the average number of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease diagnoses across the region as well since June, with more than 10 across the region on average in September.
“Though there’s no specific treatment for Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, we recommend keeping your child hydrated, and using over-the-counter pain relievers and fever reducers,” he said. “To help prevent Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, we recommend washing your child’s hands frequently with soap and water, and avoiding contact (both direct and indirect) with those who’ve had the disease.