Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease on the rise: How parents can protect their children

PHILADELPHIA - As the back-to-school season approaches, the American Academy of Pediatrics reports an uptick in hand-foot-and-mouth disease cases among young children, more than any other summer.

This highly contagious virus is a concern for parents, but there are steps they can take to keep their children safe.

What we know:

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is most common among young children and is characterized by a rash on the hands, feet, and painful ulcers in the mouth.

"It can go on for a couple of days before you start to develop a rash... that's why they call it hand-foot-and-mouth disease," explained Dr. Mike Cirigliano.

While the disease is usually self-limited, some individuals can become very sick and require hospitalization. Dr. Mike emphasized the importance of good hand h