Journal of Primary Care & Community Health (Jul 2024)

A Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak in an Atypical Population of College Students

  • Nancy G. Russell,
  • Roanna Kessler

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319241266506
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15

Abstract

Read online

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD), which is typically seen in the younger pediatric population, is uncommon in older adolescent and young adult populations. We report on an atypical outbreak of HFMD among college students at a mid-size university in the mid-Atlantic U.S. The outbreak included 138 qualifying cases of HFMD among students at the institution between August and November 2018. All tested samples were positive for CVA6, a less common cause of HFMD. Signs and symptoms and campus mitigation strategies are described. This case report aims to highlight an atypical outbreak of HFMD for clinicians who care for older adolescent and college-aged patients in primary care and community settings, and may see cases and/or outbreaks of HFMD in these populations.