Hand-foot-and-mouth disease | viral infection

DEFINITION

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease — a mild, contagious viral infection common in young children — is characterized by sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is most commonly caused by a coxsackievirus. 

There's no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth disease. You can reduce your risk of infection from hand-foot-and-mouth disease by practicing good hygiene, such as washing your hands often and thoroughly.

SYMPTOMS

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease may cause some or all of the following signs and symptoms:

• Fever 
• Sore throat 
• Feeling of being unwell (malaise) 
• Painful, red, blister-like lesions on the tongue, gums and inside of the cheeks 
• A red rash, without itching but sometimes with blistering, on the palms, soles and sometimes the buttocks 
• Irritability in infants and toddlers 
• Loss of appetite 

The usual period from initial infection to the onset of signs and symptoms (incubation period) is three to seven days. A fever is often the first sign of hand-foot-and-mouth disease, followed by a sore throat and sometimes a poor appetite and malaise. One or two days after the fever begins, painful sores may develop in the mouth or throat. A rash on the hands and feet and possibly on the buttocks can follow within one or two days.

When to see a doctor

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is usually a minor illness causing only a few days of fever and relatively mild signs and symptoms. Contact your doctor, however, if mouth sores or a sore throat keep your child from drinking fluids. Contact your doctor also if after a few days, your child's signs and symptoms worsen.

CAUSES

The most common cause of hand-foot-and-mouth disease is infection with the coxsackievirus A16. The coxsackievirus belongs to a group of viruses called nonpolio enteroviruses. Other enteroviruses sometimes cause hand-foot-and-mouth disease.

Oral ingestion is the main source of coxsackievirus infection and hand-foot-and-mouth disease. The illness spreads by person-to-person contact with an infected person's:

• Nasal secretions or throat discharge 
• Saliva 
• Fluid from blisters 
• Stool 
• Respiratory droplets sprayed into the air after a cough or sneeze 

Common in child care setting

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is most common in children in child care settings because of frequent diaper changes and potty training, and because little children often put their hands in their mouths.

Although your child is most contagious with hand-foot-and-mouth disease during the first week of the illness, the virus can remain in his or her body for weeks after the signs and symptoms are gone. That means your child still can infect others.

Some people, particularly adults, can pass the virus without showing any signs or symptoms of the disease.

Outbreaks of the disease are more common in summer and autumn in the United States and other temperate climates. In tropical climates, outbreaks occur year-round.

Different from foot-and-mouth disease

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease isn't related to foot-and-mouth disease (sometimes called hoof-and-mouth disease), which is an infectious viral disease found in farm animals. You can't contract hand-foot-and-mouth disease from pets or other animals, and you can't transmit it to them.

RISK FACTORS

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease primarily affects children younger than age 10. Children in child care centers are especially susceptible to outbreaks of hand-foot-and-mouth disease because the infection spreads by person-to-person contact, and young children are the most susceptible.

Children usually develop immunity to hand-foot-and-mouth disease as they get older by building antibodies after exposure to the virus that causes the disease. However, it's possible for adolescents and adults to get the disease.

COMPLICATIONS

The most common complication of hand-foot-and-mouth disease is dehydration. The illness can cause sores in the mouth and throat, making swallowing painful and difficult. Watch closely to make sure your child frequently sips fluid during the course of the illness. If dehydration is severe, intravenous (IV) fluids may be necessary.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is usually a minor illness causing only a few days of fever and relatively mild signs and symptoms. However, a rare and sometimes serious form of the coxsackievirus can involve the brain and cause other complications:

• Viral meningitis. This is an infection and inflammation of the membranes (meninges) and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Viral meningitis is usually mild and often clears on its own. 
• Encephalitis. This severe and potentially life-threatening disease involves brain inflammation caused by a virus. Encephalitis is rare. 

PREPARING FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT

If you take your child to a doctor, make the most of your time by writing down information the doctor will need before you go, including:

• Any signs and symptoms your child is experiencing 
• How long your child has been having signs and symptoms 
• Whether your child has been in child care or other environments where the disease might be spread 
• Any questions you have 

Some questions you might want to ask your doctor include:

• What's the likely cause of the symptoms? 
• Are there other possible causes? 
• Will my child need to undergo any tests? 
• What's the best treatment approach? 
• Is there a need to take medicine? 
• What can I do at home to make my child more comfortable? 

What to expect from your doctor

Some questions the doctor may ask include:

• When did symptoms first begin? 
• How severe are the symptoms? 
• Has your child recently been exposed to anyone who was sick? 
• Have you heard of any illnesses at your child's school or day care? 
• Does anything seem to improve the symptoms? 
• Does anything appear to worsen the symptoms? 

What you can do in the meantime

To help lessen discomfort, doctors often recommend:

• Getting rest 
• Drinking fluids — milk-based fluids may be easier to tolerate than acidic liquids, such as juice or soda 
• Taking over-the-counter pain relievers other than aspirin, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), if needed, but they're not necessary for low-grade fevers 
• Using mouthwash or oral spray to numb pain 

TESTS AND DIAGNOSIS

Your doctor will likely be able to distinguish hand-foot-and-mouth disease from other types of viral infections by evaluating:

• The age of the affected person 
• The pattern of signs and symptoms 
• The appearance of the rash or sores 

A throat swab or stool specimen may be taken and sent to the laboratory to determine which virus caused the illness. However, your doctor probably won't need this type of testing to diagnose hand-foot-and-mouth disease.

TREATMENTS AND DRUGS

There's no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Signs and symptoms of hand-foot-and-mouth disease usually clear up in seven to 10 days.

A topical oral anesthetic may help relieve the pain of mouth sores. Over-the-counter pain medications other than aspirin, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), may help relieve general discomfort.

LIFESTYLE AND HOME REMEDIES

Certain foods and beverages may irritate blisters on the tongue or in the mouth or throat. Try these tips to help make blister soreness less bothersome and eating and drinking more tolerable:

• Suck on ice pops or ice chips 
• Eat ice cream or sherbet 
• Drink cold beverages, such as milk or ice water 
• Avoid acidic foods and beverages, such as citrus fruits, fruit drinks and soda 
• Avoid salty or spicy foods 
• Eat soft foods that don't require much chewing 
• Rinse your mouth with warm water after meals 

If your child is able to rinse without swallowing, swishing the inside of his or her mouth with warm salt water may be soothing. Mix 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) of salt with 1 cup (237 milliliters) of warm water. Have your child rinse with this solution several times a day, or as often as needed to help reduce the pain and inflammation of mouth and throat sores caused by hand-foot-and-mouth disease.