Pulmonary Tuberculosis: Treatment, Symptoms, Diagnosis
Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease: What Every Parent Needs To Know About This Common Illness
Miriam Jones Bradley, RN
THURSDAY, Oct. 12, 2023 (HealthDay News) - Hand, foot and mouth disease is an infectious disease that's highly contagious. Common in children, it spreads quickly at day care centers and schools.
This guide will tell you what you need to know about hand, foot and mouth disease, its symptoms, causes, stages and treatment.
What is hand, foot and mouth disease?
Hand, foot and mouth disease is an illness caused by a very contagious virus that can be passed along before a person is aware he or she is infected.
While hand, foot and mouth disease in adults is rare, it can happen, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Hand, foot and mouth disease in children under 10 is far more common.
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Is hand, foot and mouth disease contagious?
Be aware that hand, foot and mouth disease is easily transmitted from person to person. But just how is hand, foot and mouth disease spread? It can be transmitted in several ways, according to the Cleveland Clinic:
What causes hand, foot and mouth disease?
Two families of viruses cause hand, foot and mouth disease, according to the Mayo Clinic.
"Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is caused by human enteroviruses and coxsackieviruses." wrote a team headed by Dr. Aaron Saguil, an associate dean at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, in American Family Physician:
Hand, foot and mouth disease symptoms
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hand, foot and mouth disease symptoms include:
Stages of hand, foot and mouth disease:
The time from initial infection to first symptoms (incubation period) is three to six days, according to the Mayo Clinic. The illness typically has three stages:
Hand, foot and mouth disease treatment
While there is no specific medical treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease, according to the CDC, most people get well on their own in seven to 10 days. However, some medications and supportive therapies can provide relief.
Medication for hand, foot and mouth disease
These medications for hand, foot and mouth disease can help with comfort and fever. Important: Do not give children aspirin.
Hand, foot and mouth disease supportive therapy
Here are some supportive therapy suggestions.
If hand, foot and mouth disease symptoms become severe, you feel your child may be dehydrated, or if you or your child has a weak immune system, call your medical provider. In addition, if the fever doesn't go away in three days, or the symptoms last more than 10 days, contact your physician.
Living with hand, foot and mouth disease
While hand, foot and mouth disease is short-lived, living with it can be challenging. Because of this, prevention should be at the top of mind. Here are some ideas to help you avoid infection and passing the virus along, if you are.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: How to Treat Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
Can Adults Get Hand, Foot, And Mouth Disease?
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a contagious viral illness most common in infants and young children. However, adults can also develop the illness if they have exposure to the virus. Symptoms are the same as those in children.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) can produce the same symptoms in adults as in children, but adults are more likely than children to be asymptomatic.
This article discusses the symptoms and treatment of HFMD in adults.
According 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.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) states that most adults do not experience symptoms if they contract HFMD. Those who do will generally have benign symptoms.
Complications that require medical intervention occur very rarely.
HFMD symptoms in adults are the same as those in children.
The symptoms can include:
How long does HFMD last in adults?According to the AADA, most of the signs and symptoms of HFMD clear within 7–10 days.
However, the CDC notes that people can spread the virus for days or weeks after symptoms disappear and if they have had no symptoms at all.
Enteroviruses cause HFMD. According to the CDC, the viruses that most commonly cause the illness include:
A doctor will diagnose HFMD by performing a physical examination. This exam might involve the doctor:
The doctor may also consider the person's age. Children ages 5 years and younger are the most likely to have the disease. A person should tell a doctor if they have been in contact with a child with the virus.
According to the CDC, almost all cases of HFMD clear up within 7–10 days with no medical intervention.
However, a person can treat the symptoms of HFMD at home by:
An adult may not need any treatment if they do not have any symptoms of the infection.
If a person has symptoms, these should go away with or without treatment within 7–10 days. Adults may wish to take a few days off of work if they have severe symptoms.
It is important to note that the virus can pass to others for several days or weeks after symptoms go away.
Preventive steps, including washing the hands frequently and avoiding close contact with others, can help stop the spread of HFMD.
People with no symptoms can also transmit the virus. However, asymptomatic adults will usually not realize that they have the infection, so they are likely to continue their lives as normal.
In most cases, the risk of complications from HFMD is low.
The largest risk is dehydration. The CDC also identifies the following rare complications:
People who are pregnant should let a healthcare professional know if they have developed symptoms of HFMD or come in contact with someone with the virus.
A person can take steps to avoid becoming ill. Many of the prevention methods for HFMD are also good for preventing other illnesses, such as the common cold. Measures to reduce the risk of an infection include:
Although most adults with HFMD don't experience symptoms, they may still be contagious and can spread the virus to others.
People can stay contagious for days or weeks after their symptoms go away.
Therefore, people with HFMD should not go to work and should isolate themselves at home to avoid spreading the disease.
An adult with HFMD may not need to speak with a doctor. However, if they experience fever, mouth sores, or sores on their hands or feet, they may wish to seek medical advice.
Parents or caregivers of young children who start to show symptoms of HFMD will likely not need to see a doctor if they can control the symptoms at home.
However, children or adults should see a doctor if their symptoms do not improve within 10 days or are severe.
People with a weakened immune system should talk with a doctor about HFMD, particularly if their symptoms are severe. People who get HFMD during pregnancy should also make a healthcare professional aware.
A parent or caregiver should talk with a pediatrician if their child shows signs of the infection, particularly if other children at their school or daycare center have the illness.
They should also seek medical advice if the child has severe symptoms, is very young, or is unable to eat or drink enough fluids.
Although adults can get HFMD, they often experience no symptoms, so they may not realize they have contracted the virus.
Those with symptoms of the disease can expect to make a full recovery within 7–10 days.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common viral infection. Infants and young children are most susceptible, but it can sometimes affect adults and older children.
People can reduce their risk of contracting the virus by avoiding sick people, washing their hands regularly, and refraining from sharing drinks or food with others.
Treatment typically involves managing the symptoms, if any appear. A person can expect to recover in about 7–10 days.
To Your Health: Identifying Hand, Foot And Mouth Disease
OK, let's get one thing straight right from the start. Human hand, foot and mouth disease is NOT THE SAME as foot and mouth (also called hoof and mouth) disease that affects cows, sheep, goats, and pigs. Both are caused by viruses BUT, humans don't get the animal illness and animals don't get ours.
So let's focus on humans. It's that time of year when, for parents of young children, the cycle of respiratory illnesses can seem never-ending. Runny noses and coughs can linger for so long as little ones contract and recover from viruses that they unfortunately begin to feel normal.
But a standout symptom like a rash or sores on the hands and feet can be alarming. If your child comes home from daycare or school with a prominent rash, try not to stress. It's likely a sign of another common and highly contagious viral infection called hand, foot and mouth disease.
The disease is usually mild and tends to heal on its own. It spreads through contact with an infected person's bodily fluids, such as saliva from coughs or sneezes, nasal secretions or feces. Childcare settings, where children put everything in their mouths and are together as diapers are frequently changed throughout the day, are common breeding grounds for spreading the disease. Although adults can be infected, children under 7 are most at risk.
Symptoms tend to appear three to five days after exposure and can persists for 10 days. Children may show some or all of these:
· Fever and muscle aches
· Sore throat
· Nausea and a general ill feeling
· Loss of appetite
· Painful, red blisters on the tongue, gums and inside of cheeks
· A red, white or gray skin rash on the palms, soles and diaper area. Sores look like flat, or slightly raised spots that can blister, and they can be itchy and uncomfortable.
The first two symptoms to arise are the fever and sore throat, in most cases, with the rash and blisters following about two days later. Kids are most contagious during the first week of having the virus. Babies and young children can also become fussy and may sleep more. They even sometimes drool more because swallowing can be painful.
There are no specific medical treatments for hand, foot and mouth disease, but symptoms can be managed at home, and children usually recover in seven to 10 days.
Keep your child hydrated by offering plenty of fluids and let them get plenty of rest. Sooth sore throats with cold foods like popsicles or smoothies, and avoid hot and acidic drinks that can further irritate their throats.
Reduce fever and ease pain with over-the-counter acetaminophen. If your child is older than 6 months, you can also use ibuprofen. Children should never take over-the-counter aspirin or cold and cough medicine.
Keep blisters clean and uncovered and try not to touch them, but don't worry about spreading the virus through blister fluid. It's not contagious.
In rare cases, hand, foot and mouth disease can lead to serious complications like viral meningitis (swelling around the brain and spinal cord) and encephalitis (swelling of the brain).
Call your pediatrician if your child:
· Is younger than 6 months of age
· Has a weakened immune system
· Has a fever for more than three days
· Has trouble drinking because of mouth sores
· Has symptoms that don't improve after 10 days
Seek immediate medical attention if your child has:
· A severe headache
· A stiff neck
· Back pain
· Seizures
· Extreme tiredness or changes in consciousness
Frequent handwashing, cleaning of high-touch surfaces, avoiding close contact and avoiding sharing items like cups, utensils and towels can all help prevent hand, foot and mouth disease.
Maybe we'll talk about the goats and sheep another time.
Dr. Alfred Casale, a cardiothoracic surgeon, is chief medical officer for surgical services for Geisinger and chair of the Geisinger Heart and Vascular Institute. Readers may write to him via [email protected].
Dr. Alfred Casale, a cardiothoracic surgeon, is chief medical officer for surgical services for Geisinger and chair of the Geisinger Heart and Vascular Institute. Readers may write to him via [email protected].
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