Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease

What is hand-foot-and-mouth disease?


Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a common childhood illness. It causes sores in the mouth and on the hands, feet, and sometimes the buttocks and legs. The disease is not serious, and it usually goes away in a week or so.

It can occur at any time of year, but hand-foot-and-mouth disease is most common in the summer and fall.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is not the same as other diseases that have similar names: foot-and-mouth disease (sometimes called hoof-and-mouth disease) or mad cow disease. These diseases almost always occur in animals.


What causes hand-foot-and-mouth disease?


Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is caused by a virus called an enterovirus. Infection is spread from person to person by direct contact with infectious virus.

Infectious virus is found in the nose and throat secretions, saliva, blister fluid, and stool of infected persons. The virus is most often spread by persons with unwashed, virus-contaminated hands and by contact with virus-contaminated surfaces.  It usually takes 3 to 6 days for a person to get symptoms of hand-foot-and-mouth disease after being exposed to the virus.


What are the symptoms?

At first your child may feel tired, get a sore throat, or have a fever of around 101F to 103F. Then in a day or two, your child may get sores or blisters on the hands, feet, mouth, and sometimes the buttocks. In some cases a child will get a skin rash before the blisters appear. The blisters may break open and crust over. The sores and blisters usually go away in a week or so.


How can hand-foot-and-mouth disease be prevented?


A specific preventive for HFMD is not available, but the risk of infection can be lowered by following good hygiene practices.
Washing hands frequently and correctly and especially after changing diapers and after using the toilet.

Cleaning dirty surfaces and soiled items, including toys, first with soap and water and then disinfecting them by cleansing with a solution of chlorine bleach (made by adding 1 tablespoon of bleach to 4 cups of water).

Avoiding close contact (kissing, hugging, sharing eating utensils or cups, etc.) with persons with Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease.

For any questions or concerns, please call Margaret Mathias, Communicable Disease Coordinator at the Evanston Health Department at 311 or 847-448-4311.