Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) is a viral infection that is most common in infants and children under the age of five, although it can also affect adults. The disease is caused by the enterovirus, which is spread through contact with respiratory or fecal secretions from infected individuals.

The symptoms of HFMD typically include fever, sore throat, and a blister-like rash on the hands, feet, and in mouth. The rash may also appear on the buttocks or genitals. The blisters are usually painful, and children may experience difficulty swallowing or eating due to sores in their mouths.

HFMD is usually a self-limited illness, and the symptoms typically resolve within 7 to 10 days. Over-the-counter pain relievers and fever reducers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can help manage symptoms.

To prevent the spread of HFMD, it is important to practice good hygiene, such as frequent hand washing, especially after changing diapers or using the bathroom. Individuals with HFMD should avoid close contact with others, especially young children and pregnant women until the symptoms have resolved. Disinfecting surfaces and objects that may have come into contact with the virus can also help prevent the spread of the disease.

In most cases, HFMD does not require specific medical treatment, but in rare cases, complications such as dehydration, meningitis, or encephalitis can occur, particularly in very young children or those with weakened immune systems. If you suspect you or your child has HFMD, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider for guidance on managing symptoms and preventing complications.

The most common cause of hand-foot-and-mouth disease is infection with the coxsackievirus A16. The coxsackievirus belongs to a group of viruses called nonpolio enteroviruses. Other types of enteroviruses sometimes cause hand-foot-and-mouth disease.

Oral ingestion is the main source of coxsackievirus infection and hand-foot-and-mouth disease. The illness spreads by person-to-person contact with an infected person's:

• Nasal secretions or throat discharge
• Saliva
• Fluid from blisters
• Stool
• Respiratory 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 settings because of frequent diaper changes and toilet training, and because little children often put their hands in their mouths.

Although your child is most contagious with hand-foot-and-mouth disease during the first week of the illness, the virus can remain in his or her body for weeks after the signs and symptoms are gone. That means your child still can infect others.

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

Outbreaks of the disease are more common in summer and autumn in the United States and other temperate climates. In tropical climates, outbreaks occur year-round.

Different from foot-and-mouth disease

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease isn't related to foot-and-mouth disease (sometimes called hoof-and-mouth disease), which is an infectious viral disease found in farm animals. You can't contract hand-foot-and-mouth disease from pets or other animals, and you can't transmit it to them.

Certain precautions can help to reduce the risk of infection with hand-foot-and-mouth disease:

• Wash hands carefully. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, especially after using the toilet or changing a diaper and before preparing food and eating. When soap and water aren't available, use hand wipes or gels treated with germ-killing alcohol.
• Disinfect common areas. Get in the habit of cleaning high-traffic areas and surfaces first with soap and water, then with a diluted solution of chlorine bleach and water. Child care centers should follow a strict schedule of cleaning and disinfecting all common areas, including shared items such as toys, as the virus can live on these objects for days. Clean your baby's pacifiers often.
• Teach good hygiene. Show your children how to practice good hygiene and how to keep themselves clean. Explain to them why it's best not to put their fingers, hands or any other objects in their mouths.
• Isolate contagious people. Because hand-foot-and-mouth disease is highly contagious, people with the illness should limit their exposure to others while they have active signs and symptoms. Keep children with hand-foot-and-mouth disease out of child care or school until fever is gone and mouth sores have healed. If you have the illness, stay home from work.

There's no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Signs and symptoms of hand-foot-and-mouth disease usually clear up in seven to 10 days.

A topical oral anesthetic may help relieve the pain of mouth sores. Over-the-counter pain medications other than aspirin, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) may help relieve general discomfort.