Causes

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is caused by a virus. Although the virus is common, the disease affects mostly children between the ages of 6 months and 4 years. The virus leaves the body through the stool of the infected child and enters another person when hands, food, or objects are placed in the mouth.

Symptoms

With hand-foot-and-mouth disease, a child will have a sore throat and fever, as well as a rash. The symptoms are:

• Sore mouth, with ulcers you can see if you look into the throat
• Rash with small blisters on the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands
• Low fever
• Cough, runny nose
• Diarrhea or vomiting

Prevention

Careful, thorough handwashing is the most effective way to prevent the spread of the disease. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is contagious during the illness. Once the fever is gone, there is no need to keep your child out of day care or school.

Self-Care

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is not a serious illness and usually clears up within about a week. A baby or child with the disease will be uncomfortable, but you can help relieve some of the symptoms.

• Give acetaminophen to reduce any fever and to ease some pain.
• If your child is old enough to gargle, try a saltwater rinse (½ teaspoon salt in a cup of warm water). It can help soothe the sore throat.
• Make sure the child drinks lots of fluids.