Samantha Rux with OSF HealthCare joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to talk about the respiratory illness season and what illnesses are prevalent at the moment. Hand, foot, and mouth disease is on the rise in young children, especially those in daycare, according to OSF HealthCare pediatricians. Classic symptoms include red blisters on the hands, feet, and inside the mouth, along with fever, sore throat, and irritability. While most cases are mild and treated at home, parents should consult a doctor if high fever or worsening symptoms persist. Experts stress the importance of handwashing and disinfecting surfaces to limit the spread. In encouraging news, hospitals report fewer RSV hospitalizations this season, thanks to new prevention tools like maternal vaccines and infant antibodies. It’s never too late to get flu, COVID-19, or RSV vaccinations to protect yourself and others. Talk with your primary care provider today regarding vaccinations. Find more information from the OSF HealthCare newsroom here.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is making the rounds again, especially among young children in daycare settings. Pediatricians highlight the importance of watching for red blisters on the hands, feet, and inside the mouth, as well as for fever, sore throat, and a general sense of feeling unwell. The illness is usually mild and managed at home with fluids and pain relievers, but parents should seek medical attention if a high fever persists or symptoms don’t improve. Handwashing and disinfecting surfaces remain the best ways to prevent the virus from spreading. Children should remain home until fever-free for 24 hours.
“Hand, foot and mouth disease is a pretty classic viral infection that’s most commonly affected in the younger age group under the age of five,” says Asma Khan, DO, a pediatrician for OSF HealthCare. “The symptoms you typically see are mouth lesions, usually on the tongue or the cheeks. You also have a rash on the body, most often it’s clustered on your hands and feet. Sometimes it can be a full body rash, and occasionally fevers and just feeling a little down and irritable.” Find more information from Dr. Asma Khan here.
Hospitals across the country are seeing far fewer infants hospitalized for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, this season. Health experts credit new preventive tools, including vaccines given during pregnancy and a monoclonal antibody called nirsevimab for infants, as game-changers. RSV is a common but potentially dangerous virus for young children, especially those under five, causing serious respiratory illness. Surveillance data show hospitalization rates among the youngest infants have dropped by up to 52% compared to previous years. Parents are urged to discuss these prevention options with their providers and continue everyday protective measures like good hand hygiene.
