Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
What is it?
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a highly contagious, common viral infection in young children. It is characterized by sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is most commonly caused by a coxsackievirus. If your child has been exposed to this disease, please watch your child for the symptoms listed below. If your child has the following symptoms, please call your child’s healthcare provider for guidance. Symptoms usually appear 3 to 5 days after exposure.
How is it spread?
Infection is spread from person to person through direct contact with the nose/throat discharges or the stool of an infected person.
When is it contagious?
The infected person is most contagious during the first week of the illness. Infection is spread from person to person through direct contact with the nose/throat discharges or stool of an infected person. The infected person is most contagious during the first week of the illness.
What are the most common signs and symptoms?
- Fever
- Poor appetite
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- A blister-like rash on the palms of hands, soles of feet, and in the mouth that usually develops one to two days after the initial symptoms, and fades without treatment in 7-10 days.
Should the child stay home?
Children with a fever should not attend school. To return to school, the child should be fever-free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medications), no longer have any open, weeping sores or blisters, or mouth sores that cause uncontrollable drooling.
How can we limit the spread?
It is best controlled by diligent handwashing, covering sneezing/coughing, and sanitizing surfaces.
Is there treatment available?
There is no specific treatment for hand, foot, and mouth disease.