What Is It?
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a mild illness caused by viruses. Most often, a virus called coxsackievirus A16 causes it.
Symptoms of hand-foot-and-mouth disease include sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet.
Symptoms usually appear 3 to 6 days after infection. HFMD may cause all of the following symptoms or just some of them:
- Infants and toddlers with HFMD may be fussy.
- At any age, children may get a fever and develop a sore throat. They sometimes lose their appetites and don't feel well.
- One or two days after the fever begins, painful lister-like lesions may form in the front of the mouth or throat. This includes the tongue, gums and inside of the cheeks.
- A rash on the hands and feet and sometimes on the buttocks also may appear. The rash is not itchy, but sometimes it has blisters. Depending on skin tone, the rash may appear red, white or gray. Or it may show only as tiny bumps.
HFMD is generally a minor illness that can cause fever and mild symptoms for a few days. However, you should contact a healthcare provider if any of the following apply to you:
- Your child is younger than six months.
- Your child has a weakened immune system.
- The fever doesn't get better in three days.
- Mouth sores or a sore throat makes it painful for your child to drink fluids.
- Your child's symptoms cause a lot of discomfort.
- Your child's symptoms do not get better after 10 days.
Yes. It spreads through direct contact with the virus, which is present in saliva, nasal mucus, feces and fluid from blisters. The virus can also spread through contaminated surfaces, such as toys, doorknobs, and countertops. People are most contagious during the first week of symptoms, but they can continue to shed the virus for several weeks after symptoms subside.
There's no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Symptoms of HFMD usually clear up in 7 to 10 days. Over-the-counter pain relievers may ease general discomfort.
Do not give aspirin to children, especially for flu-like symptoms or chickenpox. Aspirin is linked with a rare but serious condition called Reye's syndrome that often affects children and teens.
A topical oral anesthetic may help relieve the pain of mouth sores. Some lozenges and throat sprays include topical oral anesthetics. But do not give lozenges to children younger than 4 years old, because this can raise the risk of choking. Don't use throat sprays that contain an ingredient called benzocaine for children younger than 2. Benzocaine can cause a life-threatening condition called methemoglobinemia in children this young.
Consult a healthcare provider for any questions or complications with HFMD.