Hand-foot-and-mouth disease continues to increase since May...If you don't drink enough water, you must see a doctor

Aug 27, 2025

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease continues to increase since May...If you don't drink enough water, you must see a doctor
◇If you must seek medical attention from a medical institution. Data = Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention



As the number of patients with hand-foot-and-mouth disease has continued to increase since May, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has asked families with infants and children to comply with prevention rules in childcare and educational facilities.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease, an acute viral disease caused by enterovirus (enterovirus), is spread when it comes into direct contact with a patient's feces or secretions (such as saliva, phlegm, runny nose, blisters), or when it touches objects contaminated with them (joint toys, furniture, etc.).

The main symptoms are blisterous rashes in the hands, feet, and mouth, and can be accompanied by fever, helplessness, loss of appetite, and gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting). Most recover naturally after 7-10 days after the outbreak, but in rare cases, complications such as meningitis, encephalitis, and paralysis can occur, so medical treatment is necessary if hand-foot-and-mouth disease is suspected. In particular, infants under ▲6 months old, ▲ insufficient moisture, and severe symptoms such as fever for more than ▲2 days must be treated at a medical institution.




For patients with hand-foot-and-mouth disease, it is also important to avoid contact with others by refraining from attending daycare centers and going out. Daycare centers and kindergartens should thoroughly disinfect households and surrounding environments, such as toys, rides, and door handles, and follow personal precautions such as washing hands before and after meals and after toilets.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease continues to increase since May...If you don't drink enough water, you must see a doctor
Data=KCDC
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of patients with hand-foot-and-mouth disease (the proportion of doctors) in the 33rd week (8.10.~8.16.) has been on the rise since the end of May (1.5 patients in the 21st week), and in particular, the number of people aged 0 to 6 was 36.4/1,000, which was higher than the number of people aged 7 to 18 (7.1). Considering the characteristics of hand-foot-and-mouth disease that mainly occurs from spring to autumn, it is expected that the outbreak will continue for the time being.

Lim Seung-kwan, head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stressed that it is important to comply with preventive rules such as hand washing and thorough environmental management to prevent hand-foot-and-mouth disease.






This article was translated by Naver AI translator.