Across Northeastern Florida, the cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease among children are spreading at a disturbing rate. Multiple cases have already been reported in areas such as Callahan, Fleming Island, Hillard, and mandarin. The spread of the disease is believed to be because of the contagious nature of the disease. More and more children in daycare centers and other early childhood facilities are becoming infected, causing frustration and anxiety in parents and health care workers alike.
Brittany Weeks, mother to a 20-month-old son who is infected with the disease, has recounts their ongoing experience with the condition saying that what started as a few bumps on the baby's foot has now escalated into a very harrowing experience for the family. Jayce Weeks had a 103-degree fever and is mostly up all night, crying through the whole ordeal. His frantic mother submerging him in a tubful of water since that appears to be the only way he can be soothed. "It started on his foot and basically just blisters, and he keeps itching it and itching it, and that pops the blisters, and then it gets worse and moves up his whole body, and it's bad on his butt," says Weeks.
According to Dr. Kevin Kasych, the most dominant feature of hand, foot, and mouth disease is the development of a rash that is seen primarily on the patient's hands and feet, and characteristically appears as red spots or bumps. Lesions may also appear in the area surrounding the mouth. Parents may see
He added that although it is contagious, there are ways that parents can prevent the disease from spreading. "We want to keep the kids drinking as much as they can, preferably things with sugar in them. So like a Gatorade or even a flat soda, because they may not be eating as well...It [the disease] sounds terrible, and it may look bad, but it's really a viral infection to the body that the body can fight out on its own."