Nearly two dozen Princeton University students have been diagnosed with hand, foot and mouth disease, a contagious viral illness most commonly seen in children younger than age 5, over the last month, a spokesman for the college said.
Spokesman Martin Mbugua said 19 students have been treated for the illness at the university's McCosh Health Center since Sept. 17. Last academic year, only one case of the disease was reported, according to the Daily Princetonian.
Hand, foot and mouth disease is spread through close personal contact and can be transmitted through the air via coughing or sneezing. It can also be transmitted through contact with contaminated objects and surfaces or contact with feces.
Symptoms include fever, sore throat, reduce appetite and a general feeling of being unwell. One or two days after a fever begins, painful sores may develop in the mouth, often starting as small red spots that blister and can become ulcers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The sores can make it difficult for people to swallow, which may lead to dehydration.
A skin rash with red spots on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet may also develop. The incubation period for the disease is three to seven days, according to health officials.
In very rare cases, hand, foot and mouth disease can lead to meningitis or encephalitis, according to the CDC.
The illness is treated using over-the-counter medications to relieve pain and fever. Mouthwashes and sprays can help numb mouth pain. Most patients typically recover within seven to 10 days.
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There is no vaccine to prevent the disease. Individuals can lower their risk of infection by washing their hands often with soap and water, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and soiled items and avoiding close contact with people who have the disease.
