Hand foot and mouth disease is another one of those pesky viral rashes. While it is extremely common and is highly contagious, fortunately it usually causes only mild disease.
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What causes hand foot and mouth disease?
Hand foot and mouth, or HFM is a disease caused by a virus that is very common among young children.
🦠 HFM is most often caused by the coxsackie A16 virus, but can be caused by several different viruses in the group called enteroviruses.
🚸 It is very common among young children. Most children have had HFM by age 5.
🏫 Children are often infected while at a childcare facility or at school, when there are a lot of young children together.
🤧 HFM is spread though nose secretions, spit (saliva), stool, and droplets from sneezing or coughing.
🧸 Children, or adults, get exposed to the virus by directly touching infected body fluids, breathing in the virus, or touching contaminated toys or other surfaces and then touching their own eyes, nose, or mouth.
What are the symptoms?
⏰ Symptoms will begin about 3 to 6 days after exposure.
🌡️ A child will often develop a low fever, sore throat, runny nose, and may not be eating well.
😣 Since babies can’t tell us what they are feeling, adults often just notice a fussy baby.
🤒 After a few days, the child will develop sores in the mouth and an itchy rash on the hands, feet, and around the mouth.
👨🏽⚕️ The disease is usually diagnosed when a caregiver takes the baby to the doctor because they can’t figure out what is wrong.
👄 The doctor will spot the characteristic sores in the mouth.
✋🦶🏽The most distinctive sign is a rash on the hands and feet, most commonly the palms and soles, which gives the disease its name.
⌛ Fortunately, even though it can look bad, HFM is usually a mild infection that clears within 1-2 weeks.
What do we do to treat someone with HFM?
🤱🏾 Unfortunately, like for many viruses, there is no treatment other than supportive care.
🍼 Some children are at risk for dehydration if they refuse to drink because of mouth and throat pain. If your child shows signs of dehydration, take them to their pediatrician or the ER to be evaluated.
💊 The American Academy of Pediatrics provides guidance on how to give over-the-counter medication to help with pain and fever.
🥤 Older children may be able to gargle salt water to help reduce mouth and throat soreness, but make sure your child can easily gargle and spit before you try this.
🧊 Cold ice cubes or ice pops can help with pain and limit dehydration.
⌛ The infection typically resolves on its own in 1-2 weeks.
👶🏽 While children should stay home while they have a fever and rash, once they are fever free for 24 hours without medication and there are no open or oozing sores, they are usually allowed to return to school or daycare.
🏥 Take your child to the doctor if they are not getting better after a few days or if they become very limp or don’t respond when you try to wake them, these can be a sign of a dangerous complication of the virus getting into the brain.
What can you do to keep your family safe?
⌚ Children with HFM are most contagious, when they are most likely to spread the infection, during the first few days before the rash develops.
❗ This makes it very difficult to prevent exposure.
🧼 Since the virus is spread through saliva and stool, the most effective ways to reduce exposure is frequent handwashing, and disinfecting (washing) toys and other surfaces that are regularly touched.
🧤 Using gloves when changing babies at daycare facilities can also help limit spread.
😷 Masks can help to reduce breathing in virus when around sick children.
2️⃣ Unfortunately, people can get HFM more than once because after they recover, they could get exposed to a different enterovirus group member.
⬇️ If you or family members are immunocompromised, you may wish to limit time around sick children, or children who go to daycare facilities.
👍🏿 The good news is most people have had HFM by the time they are a few years old, so adults rarely get the disease and if they do, it may be so mild they don’t notice.
Is it dangerous to get hand foot and mouth during pregnancy?
🛡️ Most people had HFM as a child and therefore have protective immunity.
🤰🏾 HFM rarely causes complications during pregnancy, but it is a good idea to let your clinician know if you know you are around children with HFM, or if your child goes to daycare where there are known cases.
I heard of Foot and mouth disease, is this the same?
🙅 No, Foot and mouth disease is a disease that affects animals like cows, sheep, goats, and pigs.
🐮 Foot and mouth, also known as hoof and mouth, does not cause disease in people.
Remember that lots of viruses can cause rashes that can look similar. HFM is distinct with the rash most commonly occurring on the palms of the hand and soles of the feet. However, if your child has a fever and rash, it is always a good idea to have them checked out by a doctor to rule out more serious causes of rashes like measles.
Stay well and rash free,
Those Nerdy Girls
