Further Reading

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

by Katie M. Bell, RPA-C

Hand and Foot Disease

The coxsackie viral illness, also known as hand, foot and mouth disease is a common viral illness that goes around in daycares and schools, especially this time of year. This disease is most commonly seen in infants and children under the age of 10 but can also affect adults and teenagers as well.

The most common symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease are fever and small painful sores on the throat, gums and cheeks as well as painful blisters on the hands, feet and sometimes diaper areas. Some other symptoms could include headache, fussiness, poor eating, runny nose, sore throat and cough. The severity of symptoms will vary significantly amongst all children.

Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment available to cure this virus. Your pediatrician may recommend acetaminophen or Ibuprofen to reduce your child’s fever and discomfort. It is also important to keep your child hydrated during the illness in order to prevent a complication like dehydration. In most cases, children will recover from this infection in about 7-10 days. It is important to keep your child home from school and other activities while he or she has a fever and not feeling well. Once the child is feeling better, sores are healing and the fever has resolved he or she may resume their normal activities.

Prevention of this virus is key during the fall and winter months as this illness is very contagious. Children and adults should adopt good hand washing techniques to reduce the spread of viruses. It is also important that children stay home from school and daycare when ill and especially when running a fever.