Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Abstract

Hand, Foot, and Mouth DiseaseHand, foot, and mouth disease is a common viral infection in children.Hand, foot, and mouth disease can be very concerning to parents and caretakers.Most commonly, hand, foot, and mouth disease affects children younger than 5 years, but it can sometimes affect older children, adolescents, and adults.Most people are exposed to the virus that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease during their lives.The virus is commonly spread by coughing or personal contact with a sick person or their belongings.This makes schools, day care centers, and sports teams common environments for a child to pick up the virus. SymptomsHand, foot, and mouth disease typically begins with feeling ill and having a low-grade fever.A child may also experience feeling tired and wanting to eat less.This progresses to flat, red spots that appear a few days later on the hands and the bottoms of the feet and sometimes elsewhere, which may turn into blisters.Painful spots appear in the mouth and throat that may also turn into blisters.The illness usually runs its course in 7 to 10 days.Hand, foot, and mouth disease is often seen during the summer months.If your child experiences repeated high fevers, a stiff and painful neck, or a headache that will not go away, call your child's doctor.