What is hand, foot and mouth disease?

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common viral illness that mainly affects children under 10 years old. It can sometimes affect older children and adults.

It's most often caused by infection with a type of coxsackievirus. Hand, foot and mouth disease is not the same as foot-and-mouth disease, which affects animals.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is highly contagious (spreads easily from person to person). Outbreaks can occur in childcare and kindergartens.

What are the symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease?

The most common symptoms are small blisters. These may be found:

• inside your child's mouth
• on the palms of their hands
• the soles (bottom) of their feet

The blisters are sometimes in the nappy area in infants.

The blisters begin as small red dots.

Your child may also have:

• fever
• tiredness
• a sore throat

In most cases, especially in adults, your symptoms may be mild.

The symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease usually start 3 to 7 days after you've been infected. The blisters typically last for 7 to 10 days.

What causes hand, foot and mouth disease?

Hand, foot and mouth disease is most often caused by an infection with a coxsackievirus.

It's spread through person to person contact. This can be from contact with:

• coughs and sneezes
• faeces (poo) of an infected person
• blisters
• objects or surfaces contaminated with the virus

Blisters typically appear between 3 to 7 days after contact with an infected person. The virus can remain in your faeces for several weeks after you have recovered.

When should I see my doctor?

See your doctor if your child is very young, or if they haven't improved after 7 to 10 days or if you are pregnant.

You should also see your doctor if your symptoms are severe. Young children are at higher risk of serious infection.

Signs that you or your child might have a more serious form of hand, foot and mouth disease are:

• fever (38°C or above for 72 hours or more)
• abnormal or jerking movements
• breathing quickly
• being very tired or drowsy
• being very irritable
• signs of dehydration (such as not passing urine as often as usual)
• difficulty walking

How is hand, foot and mouth disease diagnosed?

Your doctor will examine you or your child and ask about your symptoms. This is usually enough to diagnose hand, foot and mouth disease.

You don't usually need laboratory tests such as blood tests.

How is hand, foot and mouth disease treated?

There is no specific treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease.

If your child has hand, foot and mouth disease, you can make them feel more comfortable by treating the symptoms:

• Give your child plenty to drink. Sips of water or oral rehydration fluid can stop them becoming dehydrated.
• Give your child any foods that they will eat. Avoid tangy or acidic food that could sting a sore mouth.
• Encourage your child to rest. Keep them home from day care or school until their blisters dry up.
• Medicines such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can ease pain and fever. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice on the right product and dose for your child. Don't give children aspirin to children.

Allow any blisters to dry out naturally. Don't try to burst the blisters, as the fluid inside them is infectious.

Antibiotics do not work on viruses, and most people can be treated at home.

What are the complications of hand, foot and mouth disease?

Hand, foot and mouth disease rarely causes further complications.

If your child has eczema, it can get worse and might become infected with bacteria.

Hand, foot and mouth disease may cause fingernail and toenail loss. This is only temporary. Your nails will grow back without treatment.

In very rare cases, hand, foot and mouth disease can cause serious illnesses that affect your heart, brain, lungs or eyes.

See a doctor if your symptoms are severe, or don't improve after a few days.

Can I prevent hand, foot and mouth disease?

The best way to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease is to practise good hygiene:

• Wash your hands thoroughly before and after personal care and food preparation.
• Make sure your child doesn't don't share items such as drinking cups, towels or clothing.
• Thoroughly wash any soiled clothing and any surfaces or toys that may be contaminated. Surfaces should be cleaned with a diluted bleach solution.

Teach your child how to:

• wash their hands
• cover their mouth when they cough
• cover their nose and mouth when they sneeze

You should keep children with the infection away from others as much as possible. They should avoid places where they will be in contact with others such as swimming lessons and playgrounds. This helps to stop this very contagious disease from spreading.

Resources and support

See your doctor or Maternal and Child Health Nurse.

The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne has fact sheets on:

• pain relief for children
• dehydration
• fever in children
• stopping the spread of germs

The Health Translations website has information on hand, foot and mouth disease in languages other than English.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.