Hand, foot and mouth disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common illness in children, though adults can get it too. It causes ulcers in the mouth and spots on the hands and feet.

It has no link to foot and mouth disease, which affects cattle, sheep and pigs.

The first stage of hand, foot and mouth disease usually brings:

• a sore throat
• a high temperature (fever)
• not wanting to eat

The second stage usually starts a few days later. Symptoms can include:

• painful mouth ulcers
• a raised rash of spots on the hands and feet (these can sometimes appear in the groin area and bottom too)

The spots can look pink, red or darker than the surrounding skin, depending on your skin tone. They may then turn into small blisters with a grey centre. The spots and blisters can sometimes be itchy or uncomfortable, and they usually last up to 10 days.

Symptoms are usually mild and are the same in children and adults.

After 1 to 2 days, red spots appear on the tongue and inside the mouth. These can grow into larger yellow-grey mouth ulcers with red edges.

The ulcers can be painful, and they may make eating, drinking and swallowing difficult. They should pass within a week.

• you or your child have a very high temperature, or feel hot and shivery
• you're worried about your child's symptoms
• your child isn't peeing as often as normal or showing other signs of dehydration

If your doctor's chamber is closed, call a doctor or the 16263 health line.

• your symptoms or your child's symptoms are getting worse, or they haven't improved after 7 to 10 days
• you're pregnant and you get hand, foot and mouth disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease can spread to other people. Check with your doctor's chamber before you go, as they may suggest a phone consultation instead.

Hand, foot and mouth disease usually clears up by itself within 7 to 10 days. In most cases you can look after yourself or your child at home.

Antibiotics won't help, because hand, foot and mouth disease is caused by a virus.

Your local pharmacist can advise you on treatments that help relieve the pain of hand, foot and mouth disease, such as:

• mouth ulcer gels
• sprays
• mouthwashes

They'll tell you which ones are suitable for children.

• rest at home
• drink lots of water
• eat soft foods like yoghurt or soup if swallowing is uncomfortable
• take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease a sore throat or fever
• use mouth gels, rinses or sprays for mouth ulcers

Hand, foot and mouth disease spreads very easily from one person to another. It can pass on through:

• coughing
• sneezing
• poo
• the fluid in blisters

Many different viruses cause hand, foot and mouth disease, so you can catch it more than once. Most people become immune to these viruses as they get older.

You can't always avoid getting hand, foot and mouth disease. But there are some steps you can take to help stop yourself passing the infection on to others.

• stay at home and off work, school or nursery until you or your child are feeling better
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in a bin as soon as you can
• wash your hands with soap and water often
• disinfect surfaces and objects often
• wash any bedding or clothing on a hot wash

• Don't share cups, utensils, towels or clothes with people who have hand, foot and mouth disease.

If you're pregnant and you catch hand, foot and mouth disease within a few weeks of your due date, speak to your doctor. Infection in pregnancy is usually nothing to worry about. But there's a small chance it could make your baby ill if you're infected shortly before you give birth.