Children and adults alike are most contagious during the first week of their illness. Children with hand, foot, and mouth disease may get rid of the virus from their respiratory tract for on average 1 to 3 weeks and through the stool for weeks, if not months after the infection initially started. Our pediatricians can tell if your child has the hand, foot, and mouth disease virus by reviewing their symptoms and describing what they are seeing in regards to what is in your child’s mouth for sores and a rash.