There has been a sudden burst of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease among children, say city doctors. They added that while it takes around a week to 10 days for the patients to recover, the parents need to be extra cautious and maintain hygiene among the kids. They also stressed on the need to keep the patients at home and not let them out to schools or playgrounds, as the disease is contagious.

Dr Fazal Nabi, consultant paediatrician at Wockhardt and Jaslok hospitals, said, “Cases have been increasing over the past 2 weeks and I am seeing 2 to 5 cases daily. Hand, foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious infection caused by viruses from the enterovirus genus, most commonly the coxsackievirus. These viruses can spread from person to person through direct contact with unwashed hands or surfaces contaminated with faeces. It can also be transmitted through contact with a person’s saliva, stool, or respiratory secretions.”