Hand, foot and mouth disease on rise in certain areas: Doctor explains symptoms, if it's contagious, risk for adults and kids

CHICAGO -- Health officials in the mid-Atlantic region have recently reported a rise in hand, foot and mouth disease, or HFMD.

There were 197 emergency department visits related to the disease in September, primarily among children younger than 5, according to the District of Columbia Health Department. The Virginia Department of Health is also reporting significant increases in emergency department and urgent care visits for hand, foot and mouth disease. Compared with previous years, in Virginia and West Virginia, there has been a notable increase in reported outbreaks, with schools and day care centers accounting for the majority of outbreaks.

What is hand, foot and mouth disease, and what causes it? How is it spread? What are the symptoms, and how long do they last? Can adults also g