Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a mild, contagious viral infection common in young children. Symptoms include sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is most commonly caused by a coxsackievirus. Show
There's no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Frequent hand-washing and avoiding close contact with people who have hand-foot-and-mouth disease may help lower your child's risk of infection. Products & Services
SymptomsHand-foot-and-mouth disease on the hand Open pop-up dialog boxClose Hand-foot-and-mouth disease on the handHand-foot-and-mouth disease on the handHand-foot-and-mouth disease often causes a rash of painful, blister-like lesions on the palms of the hands. Rashes appear differently depending on skin tone. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease on the foot Open pop-up dialog boxClose Hand-foot-and-mouth disease on the footHand-foot-and-mouth disease on the footHand-foot-and-mouth disease often causes a rash of painful, blister-like lesions on the soles of the feet. Rashes appear differently depending on skin tone. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease may cause all of the following symptoms or only some of them. They include:
The usual period from initial infection to the time symptoms appear (incubation period) is 3 to 6 days. 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 sores may develop in the front of the mouth or throat. A rash on the hands and feet and sometimes on the buttocks may also appear. Sores that develop in the back of the mouth and throat may suggest a related viral illness called herpangina. Other features of herpangina include a sudden high fever and, in some instances, seizure. In rare cases, sores develop on the hands, feet or other parts of the body. When to see a doctorHand-foot-and-mouth disease is usually a minor illness. It typically only causes fever and mild symptoms for a few days. Call your health care provider if your child is younger than six months, has a weakened immune system, or has mouth sores or a sore throat that makes it painful to drink fluids. Call your provider, too, if your child's symptoms don't improve after 10 days. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Email ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data.To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Hand-foot-mouth disease (HFM) sounds pretty gross (and kind of scary), but know that it’s actually a fairly common viral infection that’s not super serious. In fact, most kiddos get better within 10 days with little to no medical treatment. But it’s still not a pleasant ordeal for a child to go through! And because it’s contagious, it tends to spread quickly in daycares and schools, so being on top of the situation is a must. What is hand-foot-mouth disease?The quick and dirty is this: Hand-foot-mouth is caused by a group of viruses called enteroviruses. Coxsackievirus A16 is the most common virus that causes HFM in the United States. Kids under 5 years old are the most susceptible, but it can affect older children and adults as well. There are typically more outbreaks in the summer and fall. What are the symptoms of hand-foot-mouth disease?It takes three to six days for a child with hand-foot-mouth disease to show symptoms after exposure. Symptoms of hand foot mouth disease in children:
Symptoms last about a week. FYI: After a week or two, the skin on your child's hand and feet might peel. This is totally normal and nothing to be concerned about. How does hand-foot-mouth disease spread?Hand-foot-mouth disease is easily spread through direct contact from other infected folks, whether a grownup or a child. That means an infected person can spread the virus via respiratory droplets when they cough, sneeze, or even just talk. It also means that you or your child could become infected by touching toys or other objects that are contaminated with the virus. For instance, if your kiddo plays with a truck where the virus sits, then puts his hands in his mouth or rubs his eyes, he’ll introduce the virus into his body. The virus can also be transmitted by fecal contact. (Yes, it’s icky, but it’s a common thing with kids, especially those who are toilet training or are still newbies to the potty.) If a sick child has unwashed hands and plays with toys, other children could get sick by playing with those toys and putting those objects or their hands in their mouths. Adults aren’t immune, either: Changing diapers without washing your hands is another way to contract the virus. Finally, the fluid from HFM blisters and scabs can cause transmission, too. Say, your child gives a big ol’ hug to her preschool buddy who’s infected. She may touch a sore and get sick. All of the above is why daycares, pediatrician offices, and schools can be sources of such rapid infection—and why it's so important to practice good handwashing and disinfecting methods. While kids are more contagious in the first week they're sick, their saliva can continue to infect (you know, drooling, talking, coughing) for a few weeks. And their stool can be contagious for up to a few months. Having said that, most doctors recommend letting these kids go back to school as soon as the fever is gone and they are back to their normal energy. How is hand-foot-mouth treated in children?Usually, hand-foot-mouth disease goes away on its own in seven to 10 days. Good thing, because there isn't any medicine for it! The best you can do is help make your child more comfortable. Your health care provider may advise:
When should you see a doctor about hand-foot-mouth disease?First you want to make sure you’re dealing with hand-foot-mouth disease and not a more serious cause of blistering. For example:
Dehydration is the most common complication of HFM (thanks to painful mouth sores that make swallowing difficult). Signs of dehydration include:
If you suspect dehydration, immediately speak with your doctor or go to the hospital to be checked. Always call your doctor if you have ANY concerns about your child’s health. In addition here are a few other reasons to reach out for your provider’s advice:
About Dr. Harvey KarpDr. Harvey Karp, one of America’s most trusted pediatricians, is the founder of Happiest Baby and the inventor of the groundbreaking SNOO Smart Sleeper. After years of treating patients in Los Angeles, Dr. Karp vaulted to global prominence with the release of the bestselling Happiest Baby on the Block and Happiest Toddler on the Block. His celebrated books and videos have since become standard pediatric practice, translated into more than 20 languages and have helped millions of parents. Dr. Karp’s landmark methods, including the 5 S’s for soothing babies, guide parents to understand and nurture their children and relieve stressful issues, like new-parent exhaustion, infant crying, and toddler tantrums. View more posts tagged, health & safety Have questions about a Happiest Baby product? Our consultants would be happy to help! Connect with us at [email protected]. Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Can an 8 month old get handHand, foot, and mouth disease is common in infants and children younger than 5 years old. Most children have mild symptoms for 7 to 10 days.
What should I do if my baby has handWhat is the treatment? There isn't any medicine to treat or cure hand, foot, and mouth disease. The only thing parents can do is ease the fever and pain with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Call your pediatrician if your child's fever lasts more than 3 days or if he or she is not drinking fluids.
Is HandHand, foot, and mouth disease is common in children under 5 years old, but anyone can get it. The illness is usually not serious, but it is very contagious. It spreads quickly at schools and day care centers. Hand, foot, and mouth disease spreads easily.
How long is handPeople with hand, foot, and mouth disease are usually most contagious during the first week that they are sick. People can sometimes spread the virus to others for days or weeks after symptoms go away or if they have no symptoms at all.
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