Symptoms and Diagnosis of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

"Hand, foot, and mouth disease is common in infants and children younger than five years old. Most children have mild symptoms for 7 to 10 days.

Symptoms include

Fever and flu-like symptoms

Children often get a fever and other flu-like symptoms three to six days after they catch the virus. Symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Eating or drinking less
• Sore throat
• Feeling unwell

Other symptoms may appear over the next few days.

Mouth sores

One or two days after the fever starts, your child may get painful mouth sores (herpangina). These sores usually start as small red spots, often in the back of that mouth, that blister and can become painful.

Signs that swallowing may be painful for your child:

• Not eating or drinking
• Drooling more than usual
• Only wanting to drink cold fluids

Skin rash

Your child may get a skin rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It may also show up on the knees, elbows, buttocks, or genital area.

The rash usually looks like flat, red spots, sometimes with blisters. Fluid in the blister and the scab that forms as the blister heals may contain the virus that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease. Keep blisters or scabs clean and avoid touching them..."

Hand, foot and mouth disease

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

Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease

"Hand, foot, and mouth disease is common in infants and young children. It usually causes fever, painful sores in the mouth, and a rash on the hands and feet. Most infected people recover in a week or two. Wash your hands often and practice good hygiene to reduce your risk of infection.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease, or HFMD, is a contagious illness that is 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..."

Hand, foot, mouth disease

Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease

"Hand, foot, and mouth disease is common in infants and young children. It usually causes fever, painful sores in the mouth, and a rash on the hands and feet. Most infected people recover in a week or two. Wash your hands often and practice good hygiene to reduce your risk of infection.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease, or HFMD, is a contagious illness that is 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.

What Are the Symptoms of HFMD?

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

• Fever
• Reduced appetite
• Sore throat
• A feeling of being unwell
• Painful sores in the mouth that usually begin as flat red spots
• A 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..."

Hand, foot, mouth disease

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

"Hand, foot, and mouth disease, or HFMD, is a contagious illness caused by different viruses. Infants and children younger than 5 years are more likely to get this disease. However, older children and adults can also get it..."
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease