Hand, foot and mouth disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is usually a mild illness young children get.. The infection spreads by person-to-person contact and is common in child care settings. Washing hands often and well and staying away from others who have it can help prevent the disease.
HFMD is contagious, and children are most contagious during the first few days of the illness, often before the rash appears. The blisters usually dry up in about 10 days, but the virus can live in stool for weeks after the rash goes away. HFMD is usually a minor illness, and the spots and blisters usually go away after about 7 to 10 days.
Symptoms
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Feeling sick.
- Painful red spots inside the mouth that may turn into ulcers
- A rash on the palms, soles and sometimes the buttocks. The rash is not itchy, but sometimes it has blisters.
- Fussiness in infants and toddlers.
- Loss of appetite.
There is no specific treatment for hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), but there are ways to manage symptoms:
Blisters
Allow blisters to dry naturally. Blisters on the palms and soles should not be opened. Open blisters on the arms and elsewhere do not need to be covered and will dry quickly. HFMD usually clears up on its own in 7 to 10 days, but children under 2 may take longer.
To prevent spreading HFMD, you can:
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and shared items
- Avoid close contact with an infected person
- You should seek medical care if
- Your child is not drinking enough to stay hydrated
- Symptoms do not improve after 10 days
- Your child has a weakened immune system
- Symptoms are severe
- Your child is very young, especially younger than 6 months