Carrie Madormo, RN, MPH, is a freelance health writer with over a decade of experience working as a registered nurse in a variety of clinical settings.
Ronald Lubelchek, MD, is a board-certified infectious disease specialist in Chicago, Illinois. He previously served as the Medical Director for Cook County’s ambulatory HIV clinic, one of the largest HIV clinics in the U.S.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common childhood virus that spreads quickly throughout schools and daycare centers. It most commonly affects children under 5, but older children and adults can get it.
Common symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease include a fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers, and skin rash. The condition usually resolves on its own, and its symptoms can be managed at home.
This article will provide an overview of hand, foot, and mouth disease, including the common symptoms, how it is treated, and when to call your healthcare provider.
Joel Carillet / Getty Images
It usually takes about three to six days from exposure for symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease to develop. Symptoms typically last less than a week and are most severe during the first few days of illness.
Common symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease include:
Other symptoms may include:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by viruses that belong to the enterovirus family. The virus coxsackievirus A16 most commonly causes the illness. Severe cases may be caused by coxsackievirus A6.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a highly contagious illness. A sick individual is considered most contagious during their first week of illness but may shed the virus from their respiratory tract for up to three weeks and their stool for weeks to months.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is spread from person to person via the following routes:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is usually diagnosed with a medical history and physical exam. Many healthcare providers will diagnose this illness based on an individual’s symptoms.
The presence of common symptoms like fever, mouth ulcers, and a rash on the hands and feet is usually enough to determine the diagnosis. In addition, your healthcare provider may recommend taking a fluid sample from the blisters to confirm the diagnosis.
Once you or your child is diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth disease, it is important to alert your work, school, or daycare center right away.
There is no cure for hand, foot, and mouth disease, and the illness usually resolves on its own. To ease the symptoms, consider the following home remedies:
Call your healthcare provider if you or your child have had a fever for over three days or symptoms longer than 10 days. Talk with your healthcare provider right away if you are concerned about dehydration.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease usually resolves on its own, and complications are rare. Possible complications may include:
It can be difficult to prevent hand, foot, and mouth disease because the virus is so contagious. To lower the risk of transmission, keep in mind:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common childhood illness. It usually affects children under 5, but anyone can become sick from it. Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by viruses that belong to the enterovirus family. Common symptoms include fever, mouth sores, and a rash on the hands, fingers, and feet. It is usually diagnosed based on a history of symptoms and physical exam. There is no cure, and the illness usually resolves on its own.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is usually not a serious illness, but it can be uncomfortable. It is natural for children with hand, foot, and mouth disease to feel irritable and have trouble sleeping because of their discomfort. Talk with your healthcare provider about relieving the symptoms and when to return to school or daycare.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is most common in children under 5. However, older children and adults can get it as well.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a highly contagious virus and can be difficult to prevent. Wash your hands frequently, avoid sharing personal items, and regularly clean any surfaces touched by an ill individual.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hand, foot, and mouth disease.
American Academy of Pediatrics. Hand, foot & mouth disease: parent FAQs.
MedlinePlus. Hand-foot-mouth disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms and diagnosis of hand, foot, and mouth disease.
Nemours Kids Health. Hand, foot, and mouth disease.
Saguil A, Kane SF, Lauters R, Mercado MG. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease: rapid evidence review. Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(7):408-414.
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