Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a viral illness that causes small, painful sores or ulcers on the hands, feet, and mouth. It is caused by a group of viruses, referred to as enteroviruses, and is most common in children ages 6 months to 4 years. While there is no specific cream or medication to cure hand, foot, and mouth disease, there are some supportive care measures that can help alleviate symptoms.
Supportive Care Measures:
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Pain Relief: Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be given as needed for fever and mouth pain. For patients with significant dysphagia (irritability, refusal of oral fluids, or drooling), codeine and topical anesthetics can be administered. Some local anesthetics such as Benzocain, Lidocain, Tetracain are the main ingredients in creams applied in the mouth. These drugs only work to temporarily relieve pain caused by inhibiting neurotransmitters, but do not work to kill the hand, foot and mouth virus.
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Hydration: It is important to keep kids hydrated, which is sometimes difficult to do when their mouth hurts. Soft and cold foods are better, and salty, spicy, acidic, and citrus foods should be avoided.
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Magic Mouthwash: This is a remedy sometimes recommended for mouth sores, but there is a lot of variability in terms of recipe and specifics. Talk to your pediatrician about whether it is appropriate for your child before trying it. One recipe is to mix equal parts Children’s Liquid Benadryl and Maalox.
It is important to note that antibiotics are not effective against hand, foot, and mouth disease because it is a viral illness. If symptoms persist or worsen, it is recommended to contact a healthcare provider.
