Dr. Thevy Chai, a physician for Campus Health Services, said hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common viral illness that is seen around this time every year. She said like other viral illnesses such as the common cold, hand, foot, and mouth disease does not require antibiotic treatment.
“It’s just a common virus that can present symptoms like congestion, cough, fever, headache and feeling fatigued,” Chai said. “But the interesting thing about this hand, foot, and mouth is that it can cause red spots. Usually these are on the hand, feet or inside or outside the mouth.”
Taylor Bates, president of the Residence Hall Association, said there have been breakouts in certain areas around campus, especially in first-year communities, and in a situation like this, his organization’s main job is just to spread awareness and provide information to students.
“One of the best ways to prevent hand, foot, and mouth disease is just by washing hands, particularly after going to the restroom. So, in our community programs we always try to talk to people about the importance of good health,” he said.
Chai said although hand, foot, and mouth disease usually affects the section of the population that is around preschool age, it can also affect adults.
“We don’t see it as much with college students or with adults because oftentimes they were exposed to it when they were younger,” she said.
“So if they are exposed to it again as an adult, they have those antibodies from their exposure when they were younger and will be able to fight off the illness and may not have any symptoms whatsoever.”
Chai said this illness doesn’t require specific treatment and only lasts about a week.
