Hand, foot, and mouth disease
Common viral infection causing fever and blisters on hands, feet, and mouth.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral infection primarily affecting young children, caused by enteroviruses such as Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71. It is characterized by fever, malaise, and a distinctive rash of blisters on the hands, feet, and mouth, and occasionally the buttocks and groin. The disease is typically self-limiting, resolving within 7 to 10 days, but can rarely lead to serious complications like viral meningitis or encephalitis.
- caused_by
- Enteroviruses (primarily Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71)
- incubation_period
- 3–6 days
- typical_duration
- 7–10 days
- affected_population
- Children under 5 years old (occasionally adults)
- transmission
- Close personal contact, airborne droplets, fecal-oral route, contaminated objects
- seasonality
- Spring, summer, and fall
Lore & Background
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by viruses of the Picornaviridae family, with Coxsackievirus A16 being the most common cause and Enterovirus 71 the second-most common. Other strains such as CV-A6 and CV-A10 can also be responsible. The disease spreads through nasopharyngeal secretions, direct contact, and fecal-oral transmission, and infected individuals can be contagious for days to weeks after symptoms resolve. Childcare settings are common sites of transmission due to diaper changes and toilet training.
Reader's Guide
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is significant as a highly contagious but usually mild illness that primarily affects children under five. The disease is often confused with foot-and-mouth disease in livestock, but they are unrelated. Prevention focuses on hygiene and avoiding contact with infected individuals. While no specific antiviral treatment exists, symptomatic relief with pain medications is common. Rare complications include viral meningitis, encephalitis, and flaccid paralysis, with Enterovirus 71 infections tending to be more severe. The disease typically resolves on its own, and most cases require no medical intervention.
Did You Know?
- The rash of HFMD is rarely itchy for children but can be extremely itchy for adults.
- Fingernail and toenail loss has been reported in children 4–8 weeks after having HFMD, though it is temporary.
- HFMD is not the same as foot-and-mouth disease, which affects livestock.
- Some people can carry and pass on the virus without having any symptoms.
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