 Health Care Services Hospitals & Facilities Health Information Find a Doctor Why Choose Baptist |
Hand, Foot, And Mouth Disease
|
Health Library Topics
|
|
|
|
What is hand, foot, and mouth disease? Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a mild illness caused by a virus. It causes sores in the mouth and a rash with blisters on the hands and feet. Human hand, foot, and mouth disease is not related to hoof and mouth disease in cattle. What is the cause? Hand, foot, and mouth disease may occur at any age, but is most common in children under the age of ten. It appears most often in warm weather, usually in the summer or early fall. It is not unusual for more than half of the children in a school or day care center to have the disease at any one time. Children are contagious for around 7 to 10 days. What are the symptoms? Symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease appear 3 to 6 days after exposure and may include:
Within a day or two, small blisters develop. Hand, foot, and mouth disease blisters generally appear in the mouth, on the hands and feet, and sometimes on the buttocks. The blisters may only appear in the mouth or only as a skin rash. Blisters located outside the mouth generally do not cause itching or pain. These blisters may range in size from one-eighth to one-quarter of an inch. A small area of redness surrounds them. On the skin, the rash is flat or raised with some of the rash becoming fluid-filled blisters. There may be just a few blisters or there may be hundreds on the skin. How can I help my child? The disease is usually mild and lasts only a few days to a week. It may not require a trip to the health care provider. It can be confused with chickenpox, but the area affected by the rash is somewhat different. The only medicine health care providers usually recommend for hand, foot, and mouth disease is acetaminophen. Children under 18 years of age should not take aspirin or products containing salicylate (such as Pepto-Bismol) because of the risk of Reye's Syndrome unless recommended by a health care provider. Most blisters disappear without causing problems. However, some may form shallow, painful sores that look similar to canker sores. If the mouth is sore, avoid eating or drinking citrus and salty or spicy foods. Hand, foot, and mouth disease is spread by coughing or sneezing, or by contact with blisters or the stool of the infected person. Frequent hand washing helps decrease the chance of becoming infected. Staying away from others who have the disease, and not sharing toys during the infection also helps prevent the disease. Most adults become immune to hand, foot, and mouth disease in early childhood. Pregnant women should see their provider if exposed to hand, foot, and mouth disease.  Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a
replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
HIA File INF4514F.HTM Release 9.0/2006. Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subdiaries. All Rights Reserved.
 Top of Page |
Baptist Online Read the latest articles about a variety of health subjects, with many practical tips to help you take control of your health.  More
|
| Home | Health Care Services | Hospitals & Facilities | Health Information | Find a Doctor | Why Choose Baptist |
| ©2009 Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer. Notice of Privacy Practices. | |
 |
In keeping with the three-fold ministry of Christ — healing, preaching and teaching — Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation is committed to providing quality health care. |