Hand Foot and Mouth Disease – Symptoms and Causes

What to Know About Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a mild viral infection that often affects children. It causes mouth sores and rashes on the hands and feet. The coxsackievirus is the most common cause of this condition.

Currently, no specific medicine exists to treat hand-foot-and-mouth disease. The infection usually clears up on its own within 7–10 days. During this time, over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help manage fever and discomfort.

Cold foods like popsicles or ice cream can soothe mouth sores.

Prevention methods include:

• Washing hands frequently with soap and water
• Disinfecting shared toys and surfaces
• Avoiding close contact with infected individuals
• Teaching children proper hygiene habits

Signs and Symptoms

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease can cause a range of symptoms. Not everyone gets all of them. These may include:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Feeling unwell
• Painful sores inside the mouth (tongue, gums, cheeks)
• Non-itchy rash on hands, feet, and sometimes buttocks
• Fussiness in babies and young children
• Poor appetite

The time between infection and when symptoms start is usually 3 to 6 days. Children often get a fever and sore throat first.

They might not want to eat and feel sick. After a day or two, painful sores may develop in the mouth, followed by a rash.

Rash on Hands

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease typically causes painful, blister-like spots on the palms. These spots don’t usually itch, but can be uncomfortable. The rash looks different depending on skin color:

Skin Tone	How Rash Appears
Light skin	Often red or pink
Dark skin	May look white, gray, or just like small bumps

The hand rash is one of the most recognizable signs of the disease, along with mouth sores.

Rash on Feet

Similar to the hands, the feet often develop painful, blister-like spots on the soles. The appearance varies by skin tone, just as with the hand rash. Sometimes these spots form small blisters.

The foot rash can make walking uncomfortable for children. Parents might notice their child:

• Walking differently
• Not wanting to wear shoes
• Being more irritable when standing

Sometimes the disease causes similar sores in other areas. A related condition called herpangina causes sores mainly in the back of the mouth and throat, along with a sudden high fever and sometimes seizures.

When to See a Doctor

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is usually mild and goes away on its own within a few days. However, you should contact your healthcare provider if:

• Your child is under six months old
• Your child has a weakened immune system
• Mouth sores or throat pain make it difficult for your child to drink fluids
• Symptoms don’t improve after 10 days

Getting medical help in these situations is important to prevent complications and ensure proper treatment. Most children recover quickly, but these specific circumstances may require professional medical attention.

Why This Happens

Spreads in Childcare Centers

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease spreads easily in places where young children gather. Kids in daycare often catch it because they need help with diaper changes and using the toilet.

Children also tend to put their fingers in their mouths, making it easier for the virus to spread. Children with this illness are most contagious during the first week of infection.

However, the virus can stay in their bodies for weeks after symptoms disappear, allowing them to infect others without knowing it. Some people, particularly adults, can carry and spread the virus without showing any symptoms at all.

In the United States, outbreaks happen more often in summer and early fall. In warmer, tropical areas, the disease tends to spread more during rainy seasons.

Not the Same as Animal Disease

It’s important to know that hand-foot-and-mouth disease is completely different from foot-and-mouth disease (sometimes called hoof-and-mouth disease) that affects farm animals.

The two illnesses might have similar names, but they’re caused by different viruses. You cannot catch hand-foot-and-mouth disease from animals or pets. Likewise, humans cannot give this illness to animals.

The main cause of hand-foot-and-mouth disease is coxsackievirus A16, which belongs to a group called nonpolio enteroviruses. Other enteroviruses can also cause it.

The illness spreads through person-to-person contact with:

• Nose and throat secretions
• Saliva
• Fluid from blisters
• Stool
• Droplets from coughs and sneezes

Most people get infected when the virus enters through their mouth.

Risk Factors

Age plays a significant role in who gets hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Children under 5 to 7 years old face the highest risk of infection.

Those in daycare or preschool settings have an increased chance of getting sick because the disease spread easily through direct contact between children.

While young children are most commonly affected, anyone can catch hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Many older children and adults have built up immunity from previous exposure to the viruses that cause it.

However, immunity isn’t guaranteed—adolescents and adults can still develop the illness, though it happens less frequently.

Health Issues

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease can lead to some health problems, though they are usually minor. The most common issue is dehydration. This happens because mouth sores make drinking painful.

Parents should make sure children drink enough fluids while sick. In severe cases of dehydration, hospital treatment with IV fluids might be needed.

While most cases are mild with fever and other symptoms lasting just a few days, rare serious complications can occur when the virus affects the brain:

Possible Serious Complications

• Viral meningitis: Infection and swelling of the protective layers around the brain and spinal cord
• Encephalitis: Inflammation of the brain tissue, which can be life-threatening

Ways to Prevent Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease spreads easily, but you can take steps to protect your child.

• Practice good hand hygiene:
  • Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Wash after using the bathroom or changing diapers
  • Wash before preparing or eating food
  • Use hand sanitizer when soap isn’t available
• Teach children proper hygiene habits. Show them how to wash their hands correctly and explain why they shouldn’t put fingers or objects in their mouths.
• Make handwashing a regular routine. Encourage kids to wash their hands after playing and before meals.
• Clean and disinfect regularly. Pay special attention to high-touch surfaces and shared items.

1. First clean with soap and water
2. Follow with a diluted bleach solution
3. Focus on doorknobs, toys, and common areas
4. Maintain strict cleaning schedules in childcare settings

• Keep sick children home. Children with the illness should stay away from school or daycare until they no longer have a fever and their mouth sores have healed. Adults should also avoid working while showing symptoms.

The virus can survive on surfaces for several days, making regular cleaning essential.