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- To help with the symptoms: Drink fluids to prevent dehydration – avoid acidic drinks such as fruit juice Eat soft foods like soup – avoid hot and spicy foods Take paracetamol or ibuprofen as per the instructions on the packaging to help ease a sore mouth or throat A pharmacist can help with hand, foot and mouth disease
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A pharmacist can help with hand, foot and mouth disease. Ask a pharmacist for advice about treatments, such as mouth ulcer gels, sprays and mouthwashes, to relieve pain. They can tell you which ones are suitable for children.
- Childhood Rashes
The 1st symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease can be: a...
- Childhood Rashes
Treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease. 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. There’s no cure for hand, foot and mouth disease. Antibiotics won’t help as hand, foot and mouth disease is caused by a virus.
Jun 30, 2023 · Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common viral illness in children. Adults can get it too. If your child is well they don’t need to miss school. Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by a virus that can be easily spread. Early symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, and pain in your tummy.
- Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common childhood viral illness, especially in children under 10 and those under four. But people of any age can g...
- These viruses are very easily spread. They pass from one person to another through coughing or sneezing and from direct contact with fluid from bli...
- While it may be unpleasant, it’s generally mild and you usually recover within a week or two. Serious complications are rare, and are generally rel...
- The main difference between chickenpox and hand, foot and mouth disease is where you get the blisters. With hand, foot and mouth disease, you tend...
- Children should really stay home if they feel unwell. But official guidance is that they don’t need to be kept away from nursery or school if they...
- It’s possible, although most adults are immune to the viruses that most commonly cause the disease. If you get hand, foot and mouth disease, you be...
How to treat hand, foot and mouth disease. While there is no specific cure for hand, foot and mouth disease, you can keep your child comfortable until the illness resolves by following these tips: Treat mouth pain so that your child drinks well and avoids dehydration.
- Overview
- What are the symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease?
- What causes hand, foot, and mouth disease?
- Who is at risk for hand, foot, and mouth disease?
- How is hand, foot, and mouth disease diagnosed?
- How is hand, foot, and mouth disease treated?
- Home remedies for hand, foot, and mouth disease
- Hand, foot, and mouth disease outlook
- Can hand, foot, and mouth disease be prevented?
- How long is hand, foot, and mouth disease contagious?
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a contagious infection that causes blisters and sores. It tends to occur most often in young children.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious infection. It’s caused by viruses from the Enterovirus genus, most commonly the coxsackievirus.
These viruses can spread from person to person through direct contact with unwashed hands or surfaces contaminated with feces. It can also be transmitted through contact with a person’s saliva, stool, or respiratory secretions.
HFMD is characterized by blisters or sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. The infection can affect people of all ages, but it usually occurs in children under age 5.
Symptoms begin to develop 3 to 6 days after first getting the infection. This period is known as the incubation period. When symptoms do appear, you or your child may experience:
•fever
•decreased appetite
•sore throat
•headache
•irritability
HFMD is often caused by a strain of coxsackievirus, most commonly coxsackievirus A16. The coxsackievirus is part of a group of viruses called enteroviruses. In some cases, other types of enteroviruses can cause HFMD.
Viruses can be easily spread from person to person. You or your child may get HFMD through contact with a person’s:
•saliva
•fluid from blisters
•feces
•respiratory droplets that are sprayed into the air after coughing or sneezing
Young children have the highest risk for getting HFMD. Risk increases if they attend day care or school, as viruses can spread quickly in these facilities.
Children usually build up immunity to the disease after being exposed to the viruses that cause it. This is why the condition rarely affects people over age 10.
A doctor can often diagnose HFMD by performing a physical exam. They’ll check your mouth and body for the appearance of blisters and rashes. The doctor will also ask you or your child about other symptoms.
The doctor may take a throat swab or stool sample to test for the virus. This will allow them to confirm the diagnosis.
In most cases, the infection will go away without treatment in 7 to 10 days. However, your doctor may recommend certain treatments to help ease symptoms until the disease has run its course. These can include:
•prescription or over-the-counter topical ointments to soothe blisters and rashes
•pain medication, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to relieve headaches
•medicated syrups or lozenges to ease painful sore throats
Certain at-home treatments can also provide relief from HFMD symptoms. You can try the following home remedies to help make blisters less bothersome:
•sucking on ice chips or popsicles
•eating ice cream or sherbet
•drinking cold beverages
•limiting citrus fruits, fruit drinks, and soda
•limiting spicy or salty foods
You or your child should feel completely better 7 to 10 days after the initial onset of symptoms. Getting the infection again is uncommon. The body usually builds up immunity to the viruses that cause the disease.
Call a doctor immediately if symptoms get worse or don’t clear up within 10 days. In rare cases, coxsackievirus can cause a medical emergency.
Potential complications of HFMD include:
•dehydration
•fingernail or toenail loss
•viral meningitis
Practicing good hygiene is the best defense against HFMD. Regular handwashing can greatly reduce your risk of getting this virus.
You can teach your children how to wash their hands using hot water and soap. Washing your hands after using the restroom, before eating, and after being out in public is important.
Children should also not put their hands or other objects in or near their mouths.
It’s important to disinfect any common areas in your home on a regular basis. Try cleaning shared surfaces first with soap and water, then with a diluted solution of bleach and water.
You should also disinfect toys, pacifiers, and other objects that may be contaminated with the virus.
If you or your child experience symptoms such as a fever or sore throat, stay home from school or work. It’s best to avoid contact with others once the blisters and rashes develop. This can help you avoid spreading the disease to others.
Q:
My daughter has HFMD. How long is the virus contagious, and when can she start going back to school? Anonymous patient
A:
People with HFMD are most likely to pass on the infection during the first week of the illness. They can sometimes still pass it on for a few weeks after symptoms go away, but this is less likely. Your child should stay at home until her symptoms resolve. She may then return to school, but she’ll still need to limit close contact with her peers, including allowing others to eat or drink after her. She should wash her hands frequently and try not to rub her eyes or mouth, as the virus can be transmitted through body fluids. Mark Laflamme, MDAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice. Was this helpful?
- Marissa Selner
Aug 16, 2022 · There's no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Symptoms of hand-foot-and-mouth disease usually clear up in 7 to 10 days. A topical oral anesthetic may help relieve the pain of mouth sores.
Definition. Transmission. Prevalence. Complications. Prognosis. Hand, foot, and mouth disease: Summary. Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is an acute viral illness characterized by vesicular eruptions in the mouth and papulovesicular lesions of the distal limbs.
