Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
Dear Parents/Guardians,
This letter is to inform you that there have been some cases of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in our students at Lamoni Community Schools.
If you think your child has Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, please call your Healthcare provider or the school nurse.
What is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease?
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is a viral infection that causes a blister like rash
Symptoms:
Runny nose, Fever, Sore Throat
A blister like “rash” occurs in the mouth. It may be on the sides of the tongue, on the cheeks, and on the gums.
Blisters appear on the palms and fingers of the hands
Blisters appear on the bottom of the feet
Blisters may even appear on the buttocks
The blisters (sores) may last 7-10 days.
If your child is infected it may take 3-6 days for symptoms to appear.
How does Hand, Foot, and Mouth spread?
- Hand, Foot, and Mouth is spread by coughing and sneezing
- By touching hands, objects or surfaces that are contaminated with stool from someone who has HFM
- By touching fluid from the blisters
Contagious Period?
During the first week of illness. The virus may be in the stool for several weeks.
What do I do if I think my child has Hand, Foot, and Mouth ?
Call your child's medical professional
Prevention?
- WASH HANDS with soap and water after touching anything that could be contaminated with the secretions from the mouth or nose, stool or fluid from the blisters.
- WASH HANDS before preparing food or eating
- Clean and disinfect any objects that come in contact with stool or secretions from the nose or mouth. This includes toilets, potty chairs, sinks, toys, diaper changing areas and surfaces. Make sure you use a product that kills germs.
- Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing. Use a tissue and properly dispose of it in the trash.
https://www.cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/index.html
Please let me know if you have any questions,
Donna Binning, RN
Lamoni Community School Nurse