authorities it emerged yesterday.

And parents who have pre-school age children in day care centres should pay particular attention to them because hand, foot and mouth disease commonly occurs in the summer and autumn months.

Once infected the child will have a sudden fever, sore throat and difficulty swallowing.

They will also have small sores that resemble blisters inside the mouth or on their lips.

These blisters also can be present on the arms, legs, palms, soles and sometimes the buttocks. These symptoms last between seven and ten days.

A doctor's diagnosis can confirm the presence of the disease but preventive measures such as thorough handwashing and avoiding persons known to have hand, foot and mouth disease is advisable. There is no treatment for hand, foot or mouth disease but its symptoms can be alleviated by giving cool, non-acidic liquids to infected people.