IT IS the season of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and the situation in Singapore is not a pretty picture.

According to the Ministry of Health, as of last week, there were 1,261 reported cases of HFMD, bringing the total number so far this year to about 20,200.

That is almost double the number of about 11,000 cases during the same period last year.

Read also: Keeping your child safe from HFMD

Mr Colin Smith understands the frightening figures very well as his household has been plagued by the infectious disease.

The 43-year-old father of two young boys succumbed to HFMD two years ago and infected his elder son St John, then 5.

"I felt so sorry for him. He had a lot of ulcers and it hurt whenever he tried to eat," Mr Smith recounted to The New Paper on Sunday.

"It was a mistake on my part. At that time, I didn't know that adults could get HFMD. I always thought it's something that affects only young children."