Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) can be contracted more than once because it is caused by several different viruses, mainly from the enterovirus family, including coxsackievirus A16 and enterovirus 71. Immunity developed after an infection is usually specific to the particular virus type that caused it, so a person can get HFMD again if infected by a different viral strain. The time before getting HFMD again varies, but studies show that recurrences can happen anywhere from about half a month to several years after the first infection. One study found the median time to recurrence is around 11 to 12 months, with a small probability (about 2% at 12 months, up to 4% at about 39 months) of experiencing a second episode after the initial illness. HFMD is most contagious during the first week of illness but can still spread through saliva, mucus, and feces for weeks after symptoms disappear, so careful hygiene is important to prevent reinfection or spreading it to others. In summary:
- You can get HFMD again, possibly from a different virus strain.
- Recurrence can happen as soon as a few weeks to many months after the first infection, with median recurrence times around a year.
- Good hygiene can reduce risk of reinfection.
This means it is possible, though uncommon, to get HFMD again within a few months after having it the first time, but recurrence risk extends over several years as well.
