Pediatricians seeing increased number of hand, foot and mouth disease


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SARATOGA SPRINGS — It's painful, extremely contagious and doctors say it's spreading like crazy in Utah. Your kids might not be bringing just their books home from school, but hand, foot and mouth disease as well.

"So Capri had it first," said Rochelle Smith, mom of three. "The next morning, lo and behold, Melodie had it too, then Scarlett the next day."

Smith wasn't quite sure what the itchy and painful blisters covering her children were at first.

"It was totally miserable," Smith said. "I had no idea, I had never heard of it before. So when I saw the blisters, I freaked out and called the doctor right away."

She's not the only one. Utah Valley Pediatrics in Saratoga Springs is seeing a spike in hand, foot and mouth cases.

"We usually see somewhere around two cases a day, maybe one," said Dr. Brian McCune. "(Now) we're seeing eight to ten cases a day."

He said the virus is acting more aggressively this year, affecting adults as well. Some of his patients have sores all over their bodies.

"It's been way more frequent, way more prevalent in the communities than we normally see," McCune said.

In Lehi, signs outside daycares and church nurseries warn parents of the problem. The virus can stick around for up to two weeks and spreads just like the common cold.

"Someone has touched something on the surface and then you go and touch it," McCune said. "It can be that easy."


We usually see somewhere around two cases a day, maybe one. (Now) we're seeing eight to ten cases a day.

–Dr. Brian McCune


If you contract the illness, doctors says there's not much you can do. You can only treat the symptoms with over-the-counter medications like Benadryl and ibuprofen. The virus has to run its course, and there are some nasty side effects along the way.

"You can have your fingers and toes peel," said McCune. "I have parents saying their fingernails and toenails have fallen off."

Hand, foot, and mouth disease isn't considered a reportable disease by state standards, so there's no way of knowing the exact number of cases.

Pediatricians on the front lines each day, like Dr. McCune, worry it will spread even more with school back in session.

"Unfortunately, it's our year of the hand, foot, and mouth it sounds like," he said.

Smith is glad her kids are feeling better.

"We were housebound for about two weeks," she said. "I do not want that ever again. It's horrible."

To protect you and your family, doctors recommend frequent hand washing and staying away from anyone with a fever or sores present on their body.

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Ashley Kewish

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