What is Hand Foot and Mouth Disease?
- Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease can be caused by a number of different viruses- Coxsackievirus A16 is the most common, and Enterovirus 71 is the second-most common.
- With many other childhood viral illnesses, infection gives lifelong immunity- but as Hand Foot and Mouth disease can be caused by a variety of viruses, it is possible to get it more than once.
- Usually, Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease occurs in children less than 5 years old, but it can occasionally occur in older children or adults.
What are the symptoms of Hand Foot and Mouth disease?
- Symptoms of Hand Foot and Mouth disease usually start 3 to 7 days after catching the virus and can last from 7 to 10 days. The common signs and symptoms include:
- high temperature (fever)
- sore throat
- blisters inside the mouth and on the tongue. The hand foot and mouth disease rash may appear on the hands, soles of the feet , around the mouth and nappy area (these blisters are not itchy like chickenpox blisters). However kids won’t necessarily get the rash in all of these areas.
- reduced appetite (drinking and eating may be painful because of the mouth blisters)
- tiredness
- Hand Foot and Mouth Disease is NOT the same as “Foot and Mouth disease” which affects livestock such as cattle.
Is Hand Foot and Mouth disease contagious?
- Hand Foot and Mouth disease is highly contagious, and is spread by exposure to fluid from inside the blisters, or to secretions from the nose, mouth or lungs, which are spread by sneezing and coughing. It may also be present in a child’s bowel movements for several weeks after the infection.
- Spread of the virus is lessened by washing hands after touching bodily fluids, and not sharing items such as cutlery, drinking cups, towels, toothbrushes.
- Children should stay home from school or child care until the fluid in the blisters has dried up- this may take 5-7 days.
Is Hand Foot and Mouth Disease serious?
- Hand, Foot and Mouth disease is NOT dangerous to pregnant women or their unborn babies.
- Complications are very rare, and most children get better after a few days. But viral meningitis/encephalitis are possible in very rare cases- therefore if a child with Hand Foot and Mouth disease develops severe headaches, neck stiffness or becomes sensitive to light, they should be immediately assessed by a doctor.
Is there any treatment for Hand Foot and Mouth Disease?
- There is no specific treatment for Hand Foot and Mouth Disease. Because it is a virus, antibiotics will not help. Pain relief can be given for mouth blisters. Ask your pharmacist or family doctor about what medicines are helpful. It’s important to ensure a child is well hydrated- so plenty of fluids are advised. The blisters dry up naturally- they should not be pierced or squeezed.
- A vaccine has been developed but is not yet widely used or available.
For more information go to:
- your family doctor (GP) or Maternal and Child Health Nurse
- www.rch.org.au
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Medically reviewed by Dr Aifric Boylan
MB · BCH · BAO · MICGP · FRACGP · DRCOG · DCH
About Dr Aifric Boylan MB BCh BAO MICGP FRACGP DRCOG DCH Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Dr Aifric Boylan is a general practitioner with more than 20 years' experience. She graduated in medicine from…
This health information has been clinically reviewed by an Australian doctor. Qoctor health pages are reviewed to support clear, evidence-informed guidance; they do not replace individual medical advice.
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