Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

"Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is Common

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, or HFMD, is a contagious illness caused by different viruses. It is common in infants and children younger than 5 years old, because they do not yet have immunity (protection) to the viruses that cause HFMD. However, older children and adults can also get HFMD. In the United States it is more common for people to get HFMD during spring, summer, and fall.

HFMD is usually not serious, and nearly all people recover in 7 to 10 days without medical treatment. Rarely, an infected person can develop viral meningitis and may need to be hospitalized for a few days. Other even more rare complications can include polio-like paralysis, or encephalitis (brain inflammation) which can be fatal.

Symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease often include:

• Fever
• Reduced appetite
• Sore throat
• Feeling unwell
• Painful mouth sores that usually begin as flat red spots
• Rash of flat red spots that may blister on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and sometimes the knees, elbows, buttocks, and/or genital area

These symptoms usually appear in stages, not all at once. Not everyone will have all of these symptoms. Some people may show no symptoms at all, but they can still pass the virus to others..."

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Mainly Affects Young Children

HFMD mostly affects infants and children younger than 5 years old. Although older children and adults can get it too. When someone gets HFMD, they develop immunity (protection) to the specific virus that caused their infection. But people can get the disease again because HFMD is caused by several different viruses.

Hand, foot and mouth disease