Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a common childhood illness caused by a virus. It easily spreads from person to person (contagious) when someone comes in contact with the body fluids of an infected person. This can happen by: Show
It is most common in young children under age 5 years, but teenagers or adults may also get the virus. Most outbreaks occur in the summer and fall. Symptoms of HFMD usually go away without treatment in 5 to 7 days. Signs and SymptomsThe early symptoms of HFMD are much like a common cold.
A day or two after the fever, you might see:
After the rash has healed, the skin may peel; but this is harmless. TreatmentSince HFMD is a virus, antibiotics will not help. The following may help your child feel better:
To soothe a sore throat:
When to Call the DoctorCall the doctor if your child has:
PreventionThere is no vaccine to prevent HFMD. The virus spreads easiest during the first week the person is sick. It can stay in the body for weeks after your child feels better and still be a problem to others. To prevent spreading HFMD:
When to return to school or daycareTell the daycare or the school that your child has Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease. It is important for the school personnel to know so staff and parents can be told to watch for symptoms. Your child should stay home from school or childcare until he or she has no fever for 24 hours and the mouth sores and open blisters have healed. How long does hand, foot, and mouth disease last in adults?Symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease include fever, painful blister-like sores in the mouth, and a rash that may appear as blisters. It is usually a mild disease, and nearly all infected people recover in 7 to 10 days.
Can handAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , HFMD is generally not serious in adults or children. The CDC notes that most people recover from HFMD in 7–10 days without medical treatment. However, children under the age of 2 years may stay sick longer.
What antibiotics treat hand, foot, and mouth disease?Since HFMD is a virus, antibiotics will not help. The following may help your child feel better: For children older than 6 months, give acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) to help with the headache, fever, and sore throat.
What happens when adults get hand, foot, and mouth disease?Hand, foot, and mouth disease usually begins with a fever, reduced appetite, sore throat, and feeling lethargic. After developing a fever, painful sores may develop in the mouth. These sores, called herpangina, appear as spots — usually in the back of the mouth. These spots can blister and become painful.
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