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Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious illness caused by a number of different viruses. In the United States, it’s most often caused by Coxsackievirus A16, one of a group of viruses known as enteroviruses. It’s usually not serious and resolves on its own in seven to 10 days. Symptoms appear in stages and may include:
People can get HFMD at any time of the year, but it’s most common in summer and fall. There’s no specific treatment. Over-the-counter pain medicine can ease the pain and fever. (Don’t give aspirin to children or teens due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome.) A numbing mouthwash or spray can dull mouth pain, as can drinking cold liquids, which also provide hydration. Sucking on ice cubes or popsicles may also help. Avoid juice popsicles, which may be too acidic for comfort. Soft food may be preferable until the mouth sores begin to heal. RELATED: Three Common Skin Rashes in Children How does hand, foot and mouth disease spread?The nose and throat secretions, saliva, blister fluid and feces of an infected person can all contain the virus. If your child is sick with HFMD, you can catch it by breathing in droplets from a cough or sneeze, changing a dirty diaper, kissing and hugging the child, sharing cups or utensils and touching blisters or contaminated surfaces, such as toys and pacifiers. An infected person is most contagious the first week of the illness, but they can remain contagious for weeks after symptoms disappear. Children who develop HFMD should be kept home from school while they have symptoms and should avoid close contact with other kids for a few weeks afterward. Symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease in adultsAdults may experience the same HFMD symptoms as kids, though when adults develop symptoms they are usually milder (and may be misdiagnosed). Most of the time, however, adults have no symptoms, so they don’t know they’re contagious. If you do know or suspect you have HFMD, stay home from work. A board-certified dermatologist can diagnose HFMD in both kids and adults. Note, if you had HFMD as a child, you’re probably immune. Prevention measuresTo avoid catching or spreading HFMD, practice good hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds:
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth until you’ve washed up. Teach your kids to wash their hands, too. It’s also smart to disinfect toys, doorknobs, faucet handles, pacifiers and other frequently touched surfaces. Limit close contact, to the extent possible, with a child who has the illness, and don’t share cups or utensils. If you or your child has HFMD, avoid close contact with pregnant women. The virus, especially if contracted near the end of pregnancy, can increase the chance of stillbirth or infect the infant. Article Written By: Marianne Wait, an award-winning health and wellness writer based in New Jersey. 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. Can hand foot and mouth be passed to adults?Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a contagious disease that is caused by different viruses. It usually affects infants and children under 5 years old, occasionally adults will also get the disease.
How long is hand foot and mouth contagious in adults?People with hand, foot, and mouth disease are usually most contagious during the first week that they are sick. People can sometimes spread the virus to others for days or weeks after symptoms go away or if they have no symptoms at all.
Can adults get hand foot mouth disease from child?Hand, foot, and mouth disease is common in children under 5 years old, but anyone can get it. The illness is usually not serious, but it is very contagious.
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