Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infection in children that causes sores

called ulcers inside or around their mouth and a rash or blisters on their hands, feet, legs, or

buttocks. It can be painful, but it isn't serious.
It’s not the same thing as foot-and-mouth disease, which comes from a different virus and
affects only animals..

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Causes and Risk Factors

The viruses that usually cause hand, foot, and mouth are named coxsackievirus a16 and
enterovirus 71.
Anyone can have the disease, but children under age 5 are most likely to get it. It tends to
spread easily in the summer and fall.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Symptoms

Early symptoms may include:

 Fever
  Sore throat
 Painful blisters inside a child’s mouth, usually toward the back, or on their tongue
 Feeling unwell (malaise)
 Loss of appetite
 Fatigue
 Crankiness

A day or two later, a child might have:

 A rash that turns into blisters

 Flat spots or sores on their knees, elbows, or buttocks

Mouth sores can make it hurt to swallow. Eating or drinking less than usual could be the only
sign of a child’s illness. Be sure they get enough fluids and nutrients.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Transmission

The viruses that cause HFMD lurk in the fluids in an infected person’s body, including:

 Saliva
 Mucus from their nose or lungs
 Fluid from blisters or scabs
 Poop

Hand, foot, and mouth disease spreads through:

 Coughing or sneezing
 Close contact like kissing, hugging, sharing cups, or sharing utensils
 Contact with poop, like when changing a diaper
 Touching surfaces with the virus on them

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your child’s symptoms and look at any sores or rashes. This is
usually enough for them to decide if it’s hand, foot, and mouth disease. But they might also
swab your child’s throat or take a sample of poop or blood for lab testing.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Treatment

There’s no cure or vaccine for hand, foot, and mouth disease. Because a virus causes
it, antibiotics won’t help. It usually goes away on its own after 7 to 10 days. In the meantime,
you can help your child feel better with:

 Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen or numbing mouth

sprays. Don’t use aspirin, because it can cause serious illness in children.
 Cold treats like ice pops, yogurt, or smoothies to soothe a sore throat. Avoid juice and
soda, which have acids that might irritate sores.
 Anti-itch lotion, like calamine, for rashes