Hand-foot-and-mouth disease, or HFMD, is caused by a virus. Symptoms include ulcers, or sores, inside or around the mouth, and a rash or blisters on the hands, feet, legs, or buttocks. And while it’s not pleasant, it also isn’t serious.
Anyone can get the disease, but children under age 10 are most likely to catch it. You can take steps to ease the symptoms while it runs its course, though.
How Is It Diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask about your child’s symptoms and look at any sores or rashes. This is usually enough to decide if it’s hand-foot-and-mouth disease with no extra tests. But he might take a throat swab or a stool or blood sample to be sure.
How Is It Treated?
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease should go away on its own after 7 to 10 days. There is no treatment for the illness and no vaccine. You can ease your child’s symptoms with:
- Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen(Advil) or acetaminophen(Tylenol) or numbing mouth sprays. Don’t use aspirin for pain — it can cause serious illness in children.
- Cold treats like Popsicles, yoghurt, or smoothies soothe a sore throat.
- Anti-itch lotion, like calamine, can help against rashes.
- Give your child a calming Baby Herbal Bath to soothe the pain and itch.
Stop the Spread of Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease
Your child is most contagious in the first 7 days. But the virus can stay in her body for days or weeks after symptoms go away and it could spread through her spit or poop. The best way to prevent that is to wash hands thoroughly. That applies to you, too, after you change a diaper or wipe a runny nose.
Your child should be fever- and symptom-free before she goes back to school or daycare. Check with your doctor if you aren’t sure whether she’s still contagious. Ask her school or daycare about their policy on when a child can return after illness.
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is not the same as foot-and-mouth disease, which comes from a different virus and only affects animals.