Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common illness that often affects children under five. It’s marked by fever, mouth sores, and a rash on the hands and feet, usually showing up in spring, summer, and fall. Caused by various viruses, HFMD spreads easily through bodily fluids and feces. Most people experience mild symptoms that clear up in about a week, although it can be quite uncomfortable. On rare occasions, especially outside the U.S., neurological issues can occur.
Managing HFMD usually involves treating symptoms at home with over-the-counter medications to ease discomfort while the illness runs its course. This disease is named for its distinctive symptoms—mouth sores and rashes on the hands and feet—and often comes with flu-like signs. Symptoms usually are mild and last from a week to 10 days, but adults might not show any at all.
After contracting the virus, symptoms can appear within three to five days, including mouth sores that develop shortly after a fever. These sores, which might look like small, red dots and can turn into painful blisters, often appear on the tongue, inside of the cheeks, or the roof of the mouth. A sore throat may come alongside, making eating and drinking painful. You might notice your child showing signs of mouth pain from HFMD.
The rash usually shows up on the palms of the hands and the bottoms of the feet, though it can also appear on the arms, legs, and buttocks. Over a dozen enteroviruses can cause HFMD, with coxsackievirus A16 being the most common in the U.S., resulting in mild illness. On the other hand, coxsackievirus A6 can lead to more severe symptoms. These viruses are easily spread through bodily fluids of those infected.
People are typically most contagious in the first week of illness, but the virus can still be spread for days or weeks afterward. Researchers found that HFMD viruses can stay in feces for up to six weeks following recovery. Infants and young children are at higher risk of catching and spreading the virus, especially in places like daycares and schools. It’s uncommon for older kids and adults to get HFMD unless they have a weakened immune system. The risk increases during summer and fall when these viruses are most active.
Health professionals can usually diagnose HFMD with a quick physical exam by looking at your age and exposure to young children. In kids, symptoms like rashes on hands and feet, along with mouth sores, are telltale signs of the disease. Although rare, they might do lab tests on swabs from the throat, mouth, or skin to detect the virus.
There’s no actual cure for HFMD, but treatment focuses on easing symptoms and staying hydrated. Most recover in a week to ten days. Before trying any at-home remedies, especially for young children, consult with a healthcare provider. If your child has HFMD, it’s important to seek medical advice if any concerning symptoms appear.
Although rare, HFMD may lead to pregnancy complications, so contact your healthcare provider if you’re pregnant and might have been exposed to the disease. There’s no approved vaccine for HFMD yet, but some are in clinical trials. Prevention largely involves avoiding the spread of bodily fluids that contain the virus. Ensuring proper hydration is key since mouth sores can make drinking difficult.
Severe complications from HFMD are uncommon. There have been a few reports linking HFMD in pregnant people to complications like stillbirth, but the connection isn’t well understood. Generally, HFMD isn’t harmful to pregnant individuals or their babies. It’s usually not a severe or life-threatening condition for children or adults, with most recovering in a week to ten days. Although some may take up to 21 days, research shows they don’t typically experience complications.
HFMD can be very uncomfortable, especially for young kids dealing with sores and rashes. To tackle this, make sure those affected drink plenty of fluids and use pain relief under medical guidance. While there’s no specific treatment or vaccine for HFMD currently available in the U.S., several vaccines and antiviral medications are being tested, offering hope for a future solution.
