Facts About Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease is caused by a virus. Anyone can get hand, foot and mouth disease but it is most common in children. It usually occurs in the summer and fall.
Hand, foot and mouth disease is caused by a virus. Anyone can get hand, foot and mouth disease but it is most common in children. It usually occurs in the summer and fall.
Hand, foot and mouth disease is not usually serious but children may have the following signs:
The rash looks like red spots with a small blister on top. The rash is usually on the hands and feet but can show up on other parts of the body.
Hand, foot and mouth disease is not the same as foot and mouth disease that affects animals.
There is no blood test for hand, foot and mouth disease and no medicine to treat it. It may be possible to get the disease more than once. There is no vaccine. There are no special tests or treatments for pregnant women in contact with someone with hand, foot and mouth disease.
Washing hands, especially after changing diapers or helping children go to the toilet, can help control the spread of hand, foot and mouth disease.
Hand, foot and mouth disease can be spread in droplets coughed, sneezed or breathed into the air by someone with the disease or by contact with the feces of someone with the disease.
It can also be spread by touching objects, such as toys or tables that have the virus on them, and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Call the doctor if your child has any of the following signs:
Print these pages as featured in the guide book, Sneezes & Diseases: A Resource Book for Caregivers & Parents.
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