Parents of infants and small children should be concerned about recent outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease in Japan, with the number of weekly patients the highest in a decade, researchers warn.
According to recent research by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, there are a record number of highly virulent illnesses, such as hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and "pool fever" prevalent among young children that can sometimes trigger encephalitis.
Typical symptoms of HFMD include fever, mouth sores and skin rashes. In most cases, patients are cured with no subsequent complications, but there are rare instances of meningitis or acute encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) occurring.