Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common childhood illness that can also affect adults. It usually gets better on its own in 7 to 10 days. The first signs of hand, foot and mouth disease can be: After a few days mouth ulcers and a rash will appear. The symptoms are usually the same in adults and children, but they can be worse in babies and children under 5. It's possible to get
hand, foot and mouth disease more than once. Look at other childhood rashes. Information: Hand, foot and mouth disease has nothing to do with foot and mouth disease that affects farm animals. How to treat hand, foot and mouth disease yourselfYou cannot take antibiotics or medicines to cure hand, foot and mouth disease. It usually gets better on its own in 7 to 10 days. To help the symptoms:
A pharmacist can help with hand, foot and mouth diseaseSpeak to a pharmacist for advice about treatments, such as mouth ulcer gels, sprays and mouthwashes, to relieve pain. They can tell you which ones are suitable for children. Find a pharmacy Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
Hand, foot and mouth disease can be spread to other people. Check with your GP surgery before going. They may suggest a phone consultation. How to stop hand, foot and mouth disease spreadingHand, foot and mouth disease is easily passed on to other people. It's spread in coughs, sneezes, poo and the fluid in the blisters. You can start spreading it from a few days before you have any symptoms, but you're most likely to spread it to others in the first 5 days after symptoms start. To reduce the risk of spreading hand, foot and mouth disease:
Staying off school or nurseryKeep your child off school or nursery while they're feeling unwell. But as soon as they're feeling better, they can go back to school or nursery. There's no need to wait until all the blisters have healed. Keeping your child away from other children for longer is unlikely to stop the illness spreading. Hand, foot and mouth disease in pregnancyAlthough there's usually no risk to the pregnancy or baby, it's best to avoid close contact with anyone who has hand, foot and mouth disease. This is because:
Speak to a GP or your midwife if you have been in contact with someone with hand, foot and mouth disease. Page last reviewed: 12 February 2021 How do you know when handBecause hand-foot-and-mouth disease is highly contagious, people with the illness should limit their exposure to others while they have symptoms. Keep children with hand-foot-and-mouth disease out of their child care setting or school until fever is gone and mouth sores have healed.
How long is the incubation period for handThe incubation period is usually around 3 to 5 days. The infectious period remains while there is fluid in the blisters. Faeces also remain infectious for several weeks after the onset of illness. HFMD usually begins with a mild fever and a runny nose.
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