Hand, foot and mouth disease in children
Hand, foot and mouth disease involves fever and is caused by an enterovirus. The disease occurs especially in late summer and early autumn. The disease is called hand, foot and mouth disease because it typically involves blisters or spots on the hands, feet and mouth. In children, hand, foot and mouth disease can also cause a sore throat and stomach problems. Hand, foot and mouth disease is the most common in children under 10 years of age, but it can also be passed on to adults, especially within families.
How does hand, foot and mouth disease spread?
Hand, foot and mouth disease is easily spread via excrement or respiratory tract secretions. From excrement, the virus is usually passed via one’s hands to other people or into the mouth. Respiratory secretions, on the other hand, are usually spread by droplets.
The best way to prevent spreading the disease is good hand hygiene. You should wash your hands carefully with soap especially after going to the toilet or changing the child’s nappy and before eating.
Incubation period of hand, foot and mouth disease
The incubation period is 3–7 days after exposure.
Symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease
The most typical symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease are:
- fever
- blisters or spots on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and mucous membranes of the mouth
- headache
- weakness
- in children: sore throat and abdominal symptoms
The skin symptoms usually appear a few days after the onset of the fever. The symptoms of the disease are often mild and resemble those of the common cold. Sometimes hand, foot and mouth disease may even be asymptomatic. The symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease usually last for about 7–10 days.
Particularly in the early stages of the disease, it can be difficult to distinguish between hand, foot and mouth disease and chickenpox. Unlike in chickenpox, the spots caused by hand, foot and mouth disease usually do not cause itching in children and are concentrated on the hands and feet. In the healing phase, the skin may flake.
Long-term immunity does not develop after having hand, foot and mouth disease, in part due to the variation of the enteroviruses that cause the disease. This means that it’s possible to get hand, foot and mouth disease more than once.
Complications of hand, foot and mouth disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease is not associated with any actual secondary diseases. A rare complication of hand, foot and mouth disease is the detachment of nails after the illness.
Hand, foot and mouth disease in children
In children, hand, foot and mouth disease can involve a sore throat and vague stomach problems. In children, the spots are usually not itchy. On the other hand, the blisters on the mucous membranes of the mouth may be tender, which makes it difficult to eat and drink. It’s a good idea to offer your child liquid foods – such as yogurt, juice or ice cream – that do not need to be chewed.
Hand, foot and mouth disease in babies
Infections in little babies are always unfortunate, but hand, foot and mouth disease does not pose a special danger. It’s a viral infection just like the common cold, which a baby can also catch. The treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease in babies is the same as for any other age group.
Hand, foot and mouth disease in adults
Although hand, foot and mouth disease is usually a childhood disease, it can also be passed on to adults, especially in families with young children. Hand, foot and mouth disease in adults does not usually involve a sore throat or stomach symptoms, but instead the blisters may be very itchy. In addition, blisters on the soles of the feet can be painful and make walking difficult.
Hand, foot and mouth disease in pregnancy
Hand, foot and mouth disease does not affect pregnancy. If the mother giving birth has hand, foot and mouth disease, it can be passed on to the newborn at birth.
Treatment of hand, foot and mouth disease
There is no specific drug treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease that promotes healing and there is no vaccine that prevents infection. This means that the treatment of hand, foot and mouth disease is based on the symptoms. Anti-inflammatory drugs and paracetamol help with fever, headaches and the pain caused by blisters on, for example, the soles of the feet. If the blisters in the mouth are painful, consuming liquid foods can make it easier to eat.
Prevention of hand, foot and mouth disease
Good hand hygiene is the best way to prevent catching the disease. You should wash your hands carefully with soap especially after going to the toilet or changing the child’s nappy and before eating.
When should I see a doctor?
Generally, hand, foot and mouth disease is mild and goes away on its own. It’s a good idea to see a doctor if your general condition worsens, high fever persists for several days or the illness involves a severe headache and a stiff neck.
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When can you go back to work, school or day care?
As hand, foot and mouth disease can spread before the symptoms begin, isolating a sick child or adult is useless. You can go back to work, school or day care as soon as your fever and other symptoms have improved.
The expert for this article was Maria Enlund-Cerello, M.D., Paediatrician.
Sources: The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Duodecim’s Terveyskirjasto
Learn more:
Childhood infectious diseases
Information about other childhood illnesses and their treatment
