Winter warning to Cornwall on hand foot and mouth disease in children
Cornwall Council is urging parents to make sure they know the signs
Cornwall Council is urging parents and carers in Cornwall to look out for symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease in children.
Autumn is the most likely time for the condition to appear, which can easily spread among small children in schools and nurseries.
Public Health Consultant at Cornwall Council, Caroline Court, said: "It’s very common to see an increase in infections at this time of year of all kinds of winter bugs and viruses and our best defence is ensuring a good level of hand hygiene, not only for ourselves, but teaching our children to do the same.
"Hand, foot and mouth is caused by a virus and the symptoms include a fever, mouth ulcers and blisters on the hands and feet. The disease is mild for most children, but parents do need to look out for signs of dehydration".
The virus is easily spread between people in coughs, sneezes, fluid from blisters and in faeces. It is most commonly spread around five days after symptoms start.
It is a common childhood illness that can also affect adults and it usually gets better on its own in seven to 10 days.
What are the first signs of hand, foot and mouth disease?
1) A sore throat
2) A high temperature
3) Not wanting to eat
4) After a few days mouth ulcers and a rash will appear.
Caroline continued: "The COVID-19 pandemic has made us all realise the importance good hygiene measures like handwashing can play in infection prevention.
"We would also urge parents to look out for other infections including norovirus, the winter sickness and diarrhoea bug, and conjunctivitis, which are also common at this time of year.
"Soap and water is the best defence for all of these, because hand sanitiser is not always effective at stopping some infections, especially norovirus".
What are the steps to stop the spread of winter infections?
1) Wash your hands often with soap and water – and children's hands, too
2) Use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze
3) Bin used tissues as quickly as possible
4) Do not share towels or household items like cups or cutlery
5) Wash soiled bedding and clothing on a hot wash
More information about Hand, Foot and Mount disease, including the signs, can be found on the NHS website.