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Head, foot, mouth disease (HFMD) outbreak

By on July 17, 2013

As Japan’s July temperature hits the 33-35 degree level, the number of children reported to have been treated for  hand-foot-and-mouth infection (Teashikuchibyo) or a common form of coxsackie virus, is at its record high this year, according to several children’s hospital and clinics in Tokyo and western Japan.  This summertime virus that lives in a person’s gastro intestinal tract, can be transferred from one person to another through contact with saliva, and other fluid discharge from the body of an infected person.  This occurs  anywhere between 3 and 5 days.  Medical professionals say babies and young children are more susceptible to infection than adults.  Symptoms include high fever, headache, muscle ache, sore throat, rash or painful blisters on the throat, hands, feet and diaper area.  In some cases, infected people do not experience these symptoms at all.

High risk areas are swimming pools, play areas where babies and young children share toys and food.

About Tim Furukawa