HE FIRST had ulcers in his mouth.

When he got a fever that night, the multimedia designer, who only wanted to be known as Mr Ng, suspected he had contracted hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) because he had met up with a friend while she was infected.

The 27-year-old's suspicions were later confirmed when he developed rashes and blisters on his hands and feet - symptoms which gave the disease its name. He is one of more than 700 adults who have been infected with HFMD since January.

So far this year, 7 per cent of the 10,490 HFMD cases were adults, compared to 4.6 per cent of 6,004 cases for the same period last year, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

As of 3pm yesterday, 125 new cases have been reported. In the week ending last Saturday, there were 1,465 cases - just one short of the record high in the previous week.

Although both children and adults are at risk of contracting HFMD, the chances are lower for adults.

Said Dr Wendy Sinnathamby, a consultant paediatrician at National University Hospital: "Adults generally develop immunity over the years, so they are less susceptible."

Symptoms and the infectious period are similar for both adults and children.

"Kids get more blisters, and also get much more dehydrated quickly as they usually don't drink enough water," said Dr Sinnathamby.

It was a painful experience for Mr Ng though.

He said: "It was like a million needles pricking my hands all at the same time. It was especially bad when I woke up one day."

He isolated himself from his parents in case it spread to them too.

He returned to work only on Monday, after staying at home for one and a half weeks.

The normal recovery period for both adults and children is five to seven days, said Dr Sinnathamby. The disease is transmitted the same way for adults and children - through body fluids.

To minimise the risk of HFMD, the MOH advises people not to share eating utensils and food or drinks, and to wash hands with soap before eating and after going to the toilet.

Similarly, Mr Goh Eam Huat, 40, a lorry driver, took preventive measures after his daughters, aged two and four, were infected.

Dr Sinnathamby said that because parents are the main caregivers, they cannot stay away.

However, she does advise them to take precautions such as washing hands with soap.

The spike in the number of cases this year is partly due to a more contagious strain - the EV71 virus.

Unlike chicken pox and measles, there is no vaccine for it. But there is a consolation - once infected, you are unlikely to get it again.

sandrea@sph.com.sg