Hand, foot and mouth disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease | NHS inform Home Illnesses and conditions Symptoms and self-help Tests and treatments Healthy living Care, support and rights Scotlands Service Directory 0 Home Illnesses and conditions Infections and poisoning Hand, foot and mouth disease Hand, foot and mouth disease Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common infection that causes mouth ulcers and spots on the hands and feet. Its most common in young children particularly those under10  but can affect older children and adults as well. Hand, foot and mouth disease can be unpleasant, but it will usually clear up by itself within 7 to 10 days. You can normally look after yourself or your child at home. The infection is not related to foot and mouth disease, which affects cattle, sheep and pigs. Symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease The symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease usually develop between 3 and 5 days after being exposed to the infection. The first symptoms may include: a high temperature (fever),usuallyaround 38Cto 39C (100.4-102.2F) a general sense of feeling unwell loss of appetite coughing abdominal (tummy)pain a sore throat and mouth Mouth ulcers After1 or 2 days, red spots appear on the tongue and inside the mouth. These quickly develop into larger yellow-grey mouth ulcers with red edges. The ulcers can be painful and make eating, drinking and swallowing difficult. They should pass within a week. Spotty rash and blisters Soon after the mouth ulcers appear, youll probably notice a rash made up of small, raised red spots on the skin. These typically develop on the fingers, the backs or palms of the hand, the soles of the feet, and occasionally on the buttocks and groin. The spotsmay then turn into small blisters with a grey centre. Thespots and blisters can sometimes beitchy or uncomfortable and typicallylast up to 10days. What to do if you or your child has hand, foot and mouth disease If you have hand, foot and mouth disease, the best thing to do is to stay at home until youre feeling better. Theres no cure for it, so you have to let it run its course. There are things you can do to help ease your or your childs symptoms. Do drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration  water or milk are ideal; it may help to give a baby smaller but more frequent bottle or breast milk feeds eat soft foods such as mashed potatoes, yoghurt and soups if eating and swallowing is uncomfortable  avoid hot, acidic or spicy foods and drinks take over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, to ease a sore throat and fever  aspirin shouldnt be given to children under the age of 16; paracetamol is best if youre pregnant try gargling with warm, salty water to relieve discomfort from mouth ulcers  its important not to swallow the mixture, so this isnt recommended for young children alternatively, use mouth gels, rinses or sprays for mouth ulcers  these are available from pharmacies, but arent routinely recommended, and some arent suitable for young children; ask your pharmacist for advice and make sure you read the instructions first You should keep your child away from nursery or school until theyre feeling better.Adults with the condition should stay away from work until theyre feeling better. When to get medical advice You dont usually need medical attention if you think you or your child has hand, foot and mouth disease. The infection will usually pass in 7 to 10 days, and there isnt much your doctor can do. Antibiotics wont helpas hand, foot and mouthdisease is caused by a virus. If youre unsure whether you or your child has hand, foot and mouth disease, you can phone 111 or your GP for advice. Get medical advice if: your child is unable or unwilling to drink any fluids your child has signs of dehydration ,such asunresponsiveness, passing small amounts of urine or no urine at all, or cold hands and feet your child develops fits (seizures), confusion, weakness or a loss of consciousness your child is underthree months old and has a temperature of 38C (101F) or above, or is between 3 and 6 months old and has a temperature of 39C (102F) or above the skin becomes very painful, red, swollen and hot, or theres a discharge of pus the symptoms are getting worse or havent improved after 7 to 10 days Get advice from your GP if youre pregnant and youbecome infected within a few weeks of your due date. Infection in pregnancy is usually nothing to worry about, but theres a small chance it could make your baby ill if youre infectedshortly before you give birth. Read more about the risks of hand, foot and mouth disease in pregnancy How hand, foot and mouth disease spreads Someonewith hand, foot and mouth disease is most infectious from just before their symptoms start until theyre feeling better. The infection can be spread by close person to person contact and contact with contaminated surfaces. The virus is found in: the droplets in the coughs and sneezes of an infected person  you can become infected if you get these on your hands and then touch your mouth, or if you breathe in the droplets an infected persons poo  if an infected person doesnt wash their hands properly after going to the toilet, they can contaminate food or surfaces an infected persons saliva or fluid from their blisters  you can become infected if this gets in your mouth The infection is caused by anumber of different viruses, so its possible to get it more than once. Mostpeople develop immunity to these viruses as they get older. Preventing hand, foot and mouth disease Its not always possible to avoid getting hand, foot and mouth disease, but following this advice can help stop the infection spreading. Do stay off work, school or nursery until you or your child are feeling better  theres usually no need to wait until the last blister has healed, provided youre otherwise well use tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze and put used tissues in a bin as soon as possible wash your hands with soap and water often  particularly after going to the toilet, coughing, sneezing or handling nappies, and before preparing food disinfect any surfaces or objects that could be contaminated  its best to use a bleach-based household cleaner wash any bedding or clothing that could have become contaminated separately on a hot wash Dont do not share cups, utensils, towels and clothes with people who are infected Source: NHS 24 - Opens in new browser window Last updated: 29 May 2023 How can we improve this page? Help us improve NHS inform Thank You Your feedback has been received Dont include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions. 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