Hand, Foot And Mouth Disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFM) disease is a mild, short-lasting illness caused by the Coxsackie virus. It usually affects children less than ten years old but is most commonly seen in those aged three months to five years of age. Adults can be infected as well. The infection is generally experienced during the summer and early fall months. Animals can be affected by a disease called foot and mouth disease. Although the two diseases have similar names, they are not caused by the same virus and humans cannot catch the disease from animals.

Children with HFM disease complain of a sore throat and/or mouth. They may refuse to eat. The child commonly has a mild fever of 38C to 39C which lasts one to two days. All infected children will have blisters on the inside of the mouth or on the surface of the tongue. These blisters may form into painful ulcers. Small flat blisters will also appear on the hands and feet about one to two days after the appearance of the mouth blisters. The blisters on the hands and feet are generally not itchy or painful and usually disappear in three to four days leaving no scars. However, mouth blisters which have ulcerated may last for up to four weeks. The blisters seen in HFM disease may be confused with chicken pox. Children with chicken pox, however, will be more ill and have more lesions on their chest and back and not on their hands and feet.

HFM disease is very contagious, hence, family members are at an increased risk for catching the disease. As well outbreaks gave been reported in schools and daycare centres. HFM disease is most contagious during the first three to five days of the disease, so infected children should stay away from other children at that time. HFM disease is spread through person to person contact, either by direct contact with the blisters or by contact with respiratory secretions or saliva on the hands and toys of infected individuals.

Prevention of the disease simply involves staying out of contact with patients with the disease. Other ways to help control and prevent the spread of this disease include washing hands properly and often, covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing, washing toys and other surfaces that may have saliva on them, and isolating children with symptoms of HFM disease.

There is no specific treatment for HFM disease. Acetaminophen will alleviate painful mouth ulcers as well as decrease fever. The use of ASA (Aspirin) in children is not recommended. Treatment with antibiotics is not effective. Adequate fluid intake must be given. Milk, water and other bland liquids are recommended as acidic fruit juices may worsen the pain from the mouth blisters.