What is hand, foot and mouth disease?
Hand, foot and mouth disease is an infection caused by a virus. Though it mostly affects young children, it can happen at any age. Outbreaks are most common in the summer and fall.

What are the symptoms?
Hand, foot and mouth disease is usually not a severe illness. It may cause:

• fever,
• headache,
• sore throat,
• loss of appetite,
• lack of energy,
• small, painful ulcers in the mouth,
• a skin rash that looks like red spots, often with small blisters on top, that appears on the hands and feet and sometimes other places on the body.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is not spread from animals.

What can parents do?
There is no treatment for the infection. Antibiotics won't help it go away faster. It can last for 7 to 10 days.

• Keep your child comfortable and continue to offer food and liquids. 
• Be sure everyone in your house washes their hands with soap and water after changing a diaper, blowing their (or a child’s) nose, and using the toilet, and before preparing and eating food.
• Your child can keep going to child care or school if she feels well enough to take part in activities.

Call your doctor if your child:

• Is vomiting and showing any sign of dehydration, such as:
• No tears when crying.
• Dry skin, mouth and tongue.
• Less or no urine (pee) (fewer than 4 wet diapers in 24 hours).
• Is breathing rapidly.
• Has a severe sore throat.
• Severe headache, especially with vomiting, confusion or unusual sleepiness.

Source: Well Beings: A Guide to Health in Child Care (3rd edition)

Updated: August 2008