Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Children and Adults - Verywell Health

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a contagious illness common in children ages 5 and younger but can also impact adults. It's caused by a group of viruses and is transmitted through close contact.

Signs of HFMD include a fever and a painful rash of small blisters that appear on the hands, feet, and inside of the mouth, among other potential areas on the body.

This article discusses the symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease, how it spreads, and its treatment options.

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Do You or Your Child Have Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease?

Visible symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease usually show up within three to six days after contracting the virus, so you might not always know immediately if you have it.

The most common telltale signs of HFMD to watch for include:

• Painful sores inside of the mouth: Usually on the tongue but sometimes on the roof of the mouth. These can start as red or discolored bumps that eventually become blisters.
• An itchy, blistery, or bumpy rash that develops on the palms of the hands and/or soles of the feet: This itchy, blistery, or bumpy rash can also develop on other body parts, like the knees, elbows, or buttocks.

Other symptoms can include:

Here's a typical timeline of how HFMD can develop:

Days one and two after contracting the virus, you might notice a mild fever and sore throat. Sometimes, children also complain of stomach pain and might have a loss of appetite.

Starting on day three after contracting the virus, those initial viral symptoms should start to go away. Around this time, you'll notice the mouth sores, rash on the hands and feet, and swollen neck lymph nodes. This can last until day seven or longer.

Keep in mind that all HFMD signs may not be present, even if you've contracted it. Some people only develop a couple of symptoms, while other people may experience each one.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is completely different from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which is a contagious viral illness in certain animals.

How Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Spreads

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is highly contagious, particularly in kids ages 5 and younger. Once the HFMD virus is contracted, it lives in the following bodily substances:

As with other viruses, HFMD spreads quickly in the following ways:

• Close contact with another person who has HFMD, such as hugging, kissing, or sharing silverware
• Exposure to droplets from sneezing, coughing, or talking
• Touching a contaminated surface or object, then touching your mouth, eyes, or nose

In rare cases, it may also be possible to contract an HFMD virus from swallowing pool water that's been contaminated with infected feces and hasn't been adequately treated with chlorine.

Studies show that symptoms typically take four to six days to become noticeable after being infected with HFMD. And while HFMD is usually most contagious during the first week of the illness, it's still possible to transmit the virus days after the symptoms have disappeared or if there weren't any noticeable symptoms.

In the United States, the peak seasons for transmitting HFMD viruses are spring, summer, and fall. Around the world, research has also shown that warmer temperatures and higher humidity levels are linked to a higher incidence of HFMD.

Quarantine With Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

The key to avoiding transmitting HFMD to other people is staying home from school, work, and other activities until symptoms are completely cleared.

With HFMD, experts recommend that children and adults quarantine and avoid contact with others outside the household for seven to 10 days. Before you venture out, make sure that:

• You or your child is fever-free for at least a day.
• HFMD blisters are healed.
• You or your child feels well enough to go back to a regular routine.

Remember that HFMD transmits quickly in part because children often have closer contact with one another than adults do, sharing toys, playing games, and touching common surfaces. If you or your child has contracted HFMD, let the school or daycare know if they need to control an outbreak.

Treatment for Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Children

There are not any specific treatment options for HFMD. Many cases of HFMD are mild and go away on their own within a week to 10 days.

For painful or bothersome symptoms, experts recommend over-the-counter (OTC) treatments and at-home remedies to make your child feel more comfortable. These include:

• Tylenol (acetaminophen) for fever
• Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) for headaches
• Topical medications or oral antihistamines to relieve itching
• Liquid mouth-soothing remedies
• Drinking plenty of fluids
• Getting plenty of rest
• Eating soft foods

Be sure to thoroughly wash and sanitize toys (in addition to other surfaces in your home).

While most HFMD cases will go away on their own without any issue, see a healthcare provider right away if you notice the following in your child:

You should also seek medical treatment if your child is younger than 6 months or has a weakened immune system.

Treatment for Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Adults

For adults, recovering from HFMD will also focus on treating uncomfortable symptoms. In addition to OTC remedies for a headache, sore throat, or an itchy rash, you might also consider:

• Trying throat lozenges to help relieve a sore throat
• Avoiding acidic and spicy foods
• Drinking cold water
• Sucking on ice
• Gargling with warm salt water

In addition, adults will want to consider other prevention tactics as they recover, such as:

• Keeping hands washed as often as possible
• Avoiding kissing, hugging, or touching others
• Keeping hands away from the mouth, nose, and eyes
• Keeping household surfaces disinfected
  

Summary

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious viral infection common in children younger than 5, though adults can contract it, too. It's transmitted through bodily contact with saliva, feces, and contaminated surfaces.

Suppose you have any telltale signs of HFMD (including a painful, bumpy rash on the hands, feet, and mouth). In that case, staying home and avoiding contact with others until symptoms are gone (usually seven to 10 days) is essential to avoid transmitting the virus. In the meantime, treatment options focus on relieving symptoms with OTC therapies.

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