Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common contagious viral illness that primarily affects young children but can also occur in adults. It is mainly caused by the coxsackievirus A16 and sometimes by enterovirus 71. The disease typically begins with a fever and general feeling of being unwell, followed by painful sores or ulcers in the mouth and a rash with red spots or blisters on the hands, feet, and sometimes the buttocks and groin. Symptoms usually appear 3 to 6 days after exposure and generally resolve on their own within 7 to 10 days without specific treatment. The illness is usually mild but can be uncomfortable due to mouth sores and rash. Good hygiene, including frequent hand-washing, helps prevent its spread because the virus transmits through close contact, respiratory droplets, and contaminated surfaces.
Symptoms
- Early symptoms: fever, sore throat, reduced appetite.
- Mouth ulcers and painful sores inside the mouth.
- Rash of red or blister-like spots on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and sometimes on the buttocks and groin.
- Rash may appear differently depending on skin tone.
- Symptoms generally last about 7 to 10 days.
Transmission and Prevention
- Spread through contact with saliva, mucus, feces, and blister fluid of infected persons.
- Easily spreads in settings like daycare centers and schools.
- Preventive measures include frequent hand washing and avoiding close contact with infected individuals.
Treatment and Prognosis
- No specific antiviral treatment or vaccine currently available.
- Symptom relief can be achieved with pain relievers and fever reducers (avoid aspirin in children).
- Most people recover fully without complications.
- Rarely, serious complications like viral meningitis can occur.
HFMD should not be confused with foot-and-mouth disease, which affects livestock, not humans.
