A handful of children have fallen ill with hand, foot and mouth disease at a Hamilton nursery school.

Four out of approximately 70 students at Kiddie Academy have been diagnosed with the contagious disease.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral illness that commonly affects infants and children.

It is spread through direct contact with the mucus, saliva, or faeces of an infected person. It typically occurs in small epidemics in nursery schools or kindergartens, usually during the summer and autumn months.

It is uncommon in adults.

Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, fatigue and sore throat. Most doctors only prescribe medication when the infection is severe.