Hand-foot-and-mouth disease

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a mild illness caused by viruses. Most often, a virus called coxsackievirus A16 causes it.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is common in young children. But people of any age can get it. Viruses that cause the illness spread easily between people and through the air.

Symptoms of hand-foot-and-mouth disease include sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet.

There's no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Most people get better in 7 to 10 days. But certain medicines can ease pain and general discomfort in the meantime.

Help prevent hand-foot-and-mouth disease with frequent hand-washing. Also, stay away from people who are sick.

Most often, hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a minor illness. It typically only causes fever and mild symptoms for a few days. But you should call your child's healthcare professional for any of the following reasons:

• Your child is younger than six months.
• Your child has a weakened immune system.
• Fever doesn't get better in three days.
• Mouth sores or a sore throat makes it painful for your child to drink fluids.
• Your child's symptoms cause a lot of discomfort.
• Your child's symptoms don't get better after 10 days.

The most common cause of hand-foot-and-mouth disease is infection from coxsackievirus A16. This coxsackievirus belongs to a group of viruses called nonpolio enteroviruses. Other types of enteroviruses also may cause hand-foot-and-mouth disease.

Most people get the coxsackievirus infection — and hand-foot-and-mouth disease — through the mouth. The illness spreads by person-to-person contact with an infected person's:

• Nose secretions or throat discharge.
• Saliva.
• Fluid from blisters.
• Stool.
• Droplets sprayed into the air after a cough or sneeze.

Common in child care setting

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is most common in children in child care. That's because young children need frequent diaper changes and help using the toilet. They also tend to put their hands in their mouths.

Your child is most contagious during the first week of having hand-foot-and-mouth disease. But the virus can stay in the body for weeks after the symptoms go away. That means your child still can infect others.

Some people, especially adults, can pass the virus without showing any symptoms of the disease.

Outbreaks of the disease are more common in summer and early autumn. In tropical climates, outbreaks occur during the rainy season.

Different from foot-and-mouth disease

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease isn't related to foot-and-mouth disease. Foot-and-mouth disease is an infectious viral disease found in farm animals. It's sometimes called hoof-and-mouth disease.

You can't catch the viruses that cause hand-foot-and-mouth disease from pets or other animals. You can't spread the viruses to animals either.

Age is the main risk factor for hand-foot-and-mouth disease. The disease mostly affects children younger than ages 5 to 7 years. Children in child care settings are especially at risk because the viruses that cause the illness spread by person-to-person contact.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease typically affects young children, but anyone can get it.

Older children and adults are thought to have immunity against hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Their bodies often make protective proteins called antibodies after being exposed to the viruses that cause the disease. But teenagers and adults sometimes still get hand-foot-and-mouth disease.

The most common complication of hand-foot-and-mouth disease is dehydration. That's when the body loses more fluid than it takes in. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease can cause sores in the mouth and throat, making it painful to swallow.

Encourage your child to drink fluids during the illness. If children become too dehydrated, they may need fluids through a vein in the hospital.

Most often, hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a minor illness. It usually only causes fever and mild symptoms for a few days. A rare and sometimes serious form of the enterovirus can affect the brain and cause other complications:

• Viral meningitis. This is a rare infection and swelling of the protective layers of tissue and fluid that surround the brain and spinal cord.
• Encephalitis. This rare disease involves brain swelling caused by a virus. Encephalitis can be life-threatening.

You can lower your child's risk of hand-foot-and-mouth disease in many ways:

• Wash hands often. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Be sure to wash your hands after using the toilet or changing a diaper. Also, wash your hands before preparing or eating food and after blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing. When soap and water aren't available, use hand sanitizer.
• Teach good hygiene. Show your children how to wash their hands and help them do it often. Show them how to practice overall good hygiene. Explain to them why it's best not to put their fingers, hands or any other objects in their mouths. Also tell them not to touch their eyes, noses and mouths.
• Disinfect common areas. Clean high-traffic areas and surfaces first with soap and water. Next, clean with a diluted solution of chlorine bleach and water. If you're in a child care setting, follow a strict schedule of cleaning and disinfecting. The virus can live for days on surfaces in common areas, including on doorknobs. The virus also can live on shared items such as toys.
• Don't have close contact with sick people. Viruses that cause hand-foot-and-mouth disease can spread easily. So, people with the illness should try to stay away from others while they have symptoms. Keep children with hand-foot-and-mouth disease out of their child care settings or schools. Don't let them go back until the fever is gone and mouth sores have healed. If you have the illness, stay home from work.