Hand, foot and mouth diseases

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is being recognized more often, and it is becoming clear that it is mainly a disease of children. The association of mouth ulcers, and vesicles of the feet and hands, with Cox-sackie group A viruses has been found in many centres, most often with the A type 16 virus, but sometimes with A types 5 and 10. Because of the mild nature of the disease and its sporadic out-breaks, one observer rarely sees many cases, hence a description of a series of 69 cases seen in general practice may be of value. Hand, foot, and mouth disease was occurring in many parts of Britain in the second half of 1963: it was reported in Buckinghamshire, Swindon, an