Last Reviewed: October 2011 Show
What is hand, foot and mouth disease?Hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral infection caused by a strain of Coxsackie virus. It causes a blister-like rash that, as the name implies, involves the hands, feet and mouth. (Hand, foot and mouth disease is different than foot-and-mouth disease, which is an infection of cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and deer and is caused by a different virus.) Who gets hand, foot and mouth disease?The infection usually occurs in children under 10 years of age, but occasionally can occur in young adults. How is it spread?The virus is spread by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, blisters and feces of infected people. What are the symptoms and when do they start?Symptoms of fever, poor appetite, runny nose and sore throat can appear three to five days after exposure. A blister-like rash on the hands, feet and in the mouth usually develops one to two days after the initial symptoms. When and how long can someone spread the disease?A person is contagious when the first symptoms appear and may continue until the blister-like skin lesions disappear. The virus has been known to be shed in the stool for up to several weeks. How is hand, foot and mouth disease diagnosed?The diagnosis is generally suspected on the appearance of blister-like rash on hands and feet and mouth in a child with a mild febrile illness. Although specific viral tests are available to confirm the diagnosis, they are rarely performed due to expense and length of time needed to complete the tests. Does a prior infection with Coxsackie virus make a person immune?Specific immunity can occur, but a second episode is possible from a different strain of Coxsackie virus. What is the treatment?There is no specific treatment. Treatment is aimed at fever control and maintaining good oral hydration. Can there be complications associated with hand, foot and mouth disease?The illness is typically mild, complications are rare. More serious infections have been seen recently with a certain strain of Coxsackie viral infection in Indonesia. What can be done to prevent the spread of this disease?Children who feel ill or have a fever should be excluded from group settings until the fever is gone and the child feels well. Thorough hand washing and care with diaper changing practices is important as well. Is there a risk for pregnant women?There is debate as to any congenital disorders related to Coxsackie viral infections and pregnancy. Pregnant women should consult their obstetrician for further information. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by: Related information
From other websitesContent disclaimerContent on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common childhood illness that can also affect adults. Most adults are immune. It is highly contagious. It usually clears up by itself in 7 to 10 days. Hand, foot and mouth disease is not the same as foot and mouth disease. Foot and mouth disease affects farm animals such as cattle, sheep and pigs. You cannot catch hand, foot and mouth disease from animals. Check if it’s hand, foot and mouth diseaseIt can take 3 to 5 days for symptoms to develop after your child becomes infected. Most of the time you can treat your child at home. The first symptoms are:
After a few days, mouth ulcers and a rash will appear. Symptoms can be the same in adults and children. They're usually worse in babies and children under 5 years. You can get hand, foot and mouth disease more than once. But it's normally not as severe the next time. Sometimes a rash combined with a high temperature can be a symptom of another serious infection such as meningitis. You can do a glass test to make sure it isn't. How to treat hand, foot and mouth disease in childrenTo help with the symptoms:
If your child is unwell or uncomfortable with a fever, giving them paracetamol or ibuprofen can help. Only give your child ibuprofen if they are older than 3 months. Adults who are unwell can also take paracetamol or ibuprofen. You cannot take antibiotics or medicines to cure hand, foot and mouth disease. Talk to a pharmacistSpeak to a pharmacist for advice about treatments. Mouth ulcer gels, sprays and mouthwashes can help relieve pain. They can tell you which ones are suitable for children. Ask a pharmacist about suitable medications for you or your child. When to see your GPYou will probably know if you or your child has hand, foot and mouth disease without needing to go to a GP. If there's an outbreak of the virus at your child's school or crèche, it's likely they've caught the virus. Hand, foot and mouth disease is contagious. Check with your GP's surgery before going in-person. They may suggest a phone consultation. This is to prevent the infection from spreading to other patients. Test for hand, foot and mouth diseaseYour GP or paediatrician may need to do other tests if they are not sure your child has hand, foot and mouth disease. These could include:
These samples will be sent to the lab for testing. Hand, foot and mouth disease in pregnancyThere's normally no risk to the pregnancy or baby. But, it's best to avoid close contact with anyone who has hand, foot and mouth disease. This is because:
Speak to your GP or midwife if you have been in contact with someone with hand, foot and mouth disease. Try not to worry. Adults are less likely to become infected than children. Complications from hand, foot and mouth diseaseMouth ulcers caused by hand foot and mouth disease can make it hard to eat and drink. DehydrationA sore mouth or throat can make it difficult to drink and swallow. Drink plenty of fluids. Children can become dehydrated if they do not drink enough. If their mouth is sore, your child may not want to drink. Giving them paracetamol or ibuprofen regularly can help with this. It might help to give them sips of fluid, using a straw. If your child is breastfeeding, offer them regular breastfeeds. This will help them stay hydrated. It will also comfort them too. If you or your child become severely dehydrated, you may have to be treated in hospital and be given fluids through a drip. A drip is a small tube placed into a vein in your child's hand or arm. InfectionTalk to your GP if any of your child’s blisters start oozing pus or the skin around them becomes very red. Serious complications from hand, foot and mouth diseaseSerious complications due to hand, foot and mouth disease are rare. In rare cases, the virus can cause inflammation of the heart, the brain or the lung. In very rare cases these complications can cause death. Take your child to your nearest hospital emergency department (ED) that treats children if they have hand, foot and mouth disease and any of the following symptoms:
Causes of hand, foot and mouth diseaseHand, foot and mouth disease is caused by coxsackievirus. It's easily passed on to other people. It's spread in coughs, sneezes and poo. You can become infected if you touch the blisters, poo or saliva of someone with hand, foot and mouth. How to stop hand, foot and mouth disease spreadingYou're most likely to give hand, foot and mouth disease to others in the first 5 days after symptoms start. To reduce the risk of spreading hand, foot and mouth disease:
Staying off school, pre-school or childcareKeep your child off school, pre-school or childcare while they are feeling unwell. As soon as they're feeling better, they can go back. There's no need to wait until all the blisters have healed. Keeping your child home for longer is unlikely to stop the illness from spreading. Your child was probably contagious even before they had symptoms. How quickly do hand foot and mouth symptoms start?The symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease usually develop between three and five days after being exposed to the infection. The first symptoms may include: a high temperature (fever), usually around 38-39C (100.4-102.2F) a general sense of feeling unwell.
What symptom comes first with hand foot mouth?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.
What are the first symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease in adults?Symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease include fever, painful blister-like sores in the mouth, and a rash that may appear as blisters. It is usually a mild disease, and nearly all infected people recover in 7 to 10 days.
How do hand foot and mouth sores start?Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by viruses.
A person infected with one of these viruses is contagious, which means that they can pass the virus to other people. People with hand, foot, and mouth disease are usually most contagious during the first week that they are sick.
|