Doctors across the United States are reporting an unusual rise in hand, foot and mouth disease this year. The illness, normally a mild childhood infection that peaks in late summer, is spreading faster than expected and affecting more people than in recent seasons. Health experts estimate that cases in 2025 could approach one million, far higher than the typical annual figure.

States including Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kansas, Virginia and West Virginia have all seen sharp increases. Clinics in New York City have also raised concern about growing numbers on Staten Island. In some areas, pediatricians say they are seeing four to five times more cases than they observed last year. Several physicians describe this as the most intense surge they have witnessed in a decade.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is caused by viruses in the enterovirus family, most often coxsackievirus A16. It spreads easily through coughs, saliva, contaminated surfaces and even the fluid inside blisters. The infection is most common in young children, especially those in daycares and schools, but doctors are now seeing older children and adults fall ill as well.

The early symptoms often resemble a cold, with fever and sore throat. Painful mouth sores and small blisters on the hands and feet typically follow. Most people recover in about a week, though severe mouth ulcers can slow healing. Very young children occasionally face complications that require medical attention.

There is no vaccine or specific treatment for HFMD, so prevention relies on hand-washing, disinfecting shared spaces and keeping sick children home. With cases rising nationwide, doctors are urging families to stay alert and take simple steps to reduce the spread.