Sometimes fatal skin disease strikes in north China

BEIJING, June 15 (Reuters) - Hand, foot and mouth disease, which in rare cases can be fatal, has infected at least 121 children in north China's Inner Mongolia in recent days, Xinhua news agency said.

All the patients had been quarantined, symptoms were mild and their condition was stable.

The disease spread in kindergartens, schools and households in Jungar Banner, a district of Erdos in the centre of Inner Mongolia.

As of May 21, China had reported 5,459 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, up 119.41 percent from the same period last year, according to the Health Ministry. The disease has killed three children in recent weeks in the eastern province of Shandong.

The disease strikes mostly children under 10. Symptoms include fever, sores in the mouth and a rash with blisters. It can be fatal if complications occur.