Expert warning: "Hand, foot, and mouth disease can spread through pool water"

Pediatrician Dr. Nazlı Karakullukçu Çebi from Liv Hospital Samsun provided information about the contagious infection known as hand, foot, and mouth disease. Dr. Çebi stated, "The disease can spread through respiratory droplets, saliva, close contact, and fecal-oral transmission. The opening of pool season in summer and ingestion of contaminated pool water pose an additional risk."

"A fever and fatigue are among the symptoms"

Dr. Çebi pointed out that hand, foot, and mouth disease typically starts with fever, loss of appetite, a vague feeling of malaise, and throat pain. "Abdominal pain and cough may also occur. 1-2 days after the fever starts, painful, fluid-filled blisters develop in the mouth. The rash usually starts as small red spots at the back of the mouth, later becoming fluid-filled blisters. Skin rashes develop 1-2 days later. They start as flat red spots on the palms and soles of the feet."

"Rashes may appear on the skin"

Dr. Çebi also mentioned that rashes may sometimes appear on the knees, elbows, buttocks, or genital area. "Rashes in the buttocks can resemble diaper rash, and rashes on the hands can be mistaken for allergies. Rashes on the hands and feet generally heal spontaneously within 5-7 days. Especially young children may have difficulty drinking water due to painful sores in their mouths. Although it is called hand, foot, and mouth disease, rashes may not always appear in all these areas. They may develop only as mouth sores or only as skin rashes."