Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease is usually a short mild illness that mainly affects children. Most children fully recover within a week. Serious complications occur rarely. This disease is NOT related to the disease with a similar name which affects animals. |
What is hand, foot and mouth disease and what causes it?
Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is due to an infection that usually causes a typical illness, including a typical rash. It is most commonly caused by the Coxsackie A16 virus. Some cases are caused by a different, but related, virus called enterovirus 71. Rarely, the same illness is caused by other strains of the Coxsackie virus.
What are the symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease?
HFMD most commonly affects children under 10 years of age. Older children and adults are sometimes affected. Adults and older children with HFMD tend to develop a milder form of the illness compared with younger children. Like many viral infections, the illness often starts with a feeling of being unwell for a day or so. This might include a high temperature (fever). After this a sore throat commonly occurs, quickly followed by small spots that develop inside the mouth. These soon progress into small mouth ulcers. In about 3 in 4 cases, spots also develop on the skin. This is typically a day or so after the mouth ulcers develop. The spots are small lumps that are a few millimeters in diameter and usually appear on the hands and feet. Spots sometimes also appear on the buttocks, legs and genitals. They rarely develop on other parts of the body. The spots are similar to chickenpox, but are smaller. Unlike chickenpox, they are not usually itchy but can be quite tender.
Is hand, foot and mouth disease serious?
Usually not. The fever and spots usually clear within a few days. The mouth ulcers can be painful, and may last up to a week. The sore mouth may make a child miserable for a few days. In a very small number of cases, the virus affects the heart, lung or brain to cause a serious inflammation of the heart, lung or brain, which is fatal in some cases. But it has to be stressed - these serious complications are rare.
Is hand, foot and mouth disease infectious?
Yes. The incubation period is 3-5 days. This means it takes 3-5 days to develop symptoms after being infected from another person. Most cases are passed on by coughing and sneezing which transmits the virus into the air. It is mainly infectious until the spots and mouth ulcers have gone. Children can still be mildly infectious for several weeks longer as the virus may be passed out with the feces (stools) for several weeks after the symptoms have gone. Therefore, it is sensible to maintain good hygiene to reduce the chance of passing on the virus. For example: • Make sure that children wash their hands thoroughly after using the toilet. • Aim to keep mouth and nose covered when coughing and sneezing. Wipe the nose and mouth with disposable tissues. • Adults should take particular care when handling nappies and tissues. Wash hands thoroughly after handling nappies and tissues. • Soiled clothes, bedding, and towels should be washed on a hot cycle of the washing machine. • It is best not to share cups, eating utensils, towels, etc whilst ill with this infection and for several weeks afterwards. • Do not deliberately pierce blisters, as the fluid is infectious. Courtesy of: Pateint.Co.UK
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