What Is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease?

Learn the signs of hand, foot, and mouth disease and when to seek treatment options.

In the world of childhood illnesses, one common visitor is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, commonly referred to as HFMD. While it often targets young children, adults aren’t entirely off the hook either. Although typically mild, hand, foot, and mouth disease can be painful and is incredibly contagious. 

If your child attends daycare or school, chances are you’ve received that dreaded alert about a case in the classroom. So, how do you know if your child has it, and what should you do if they are diagnosed with the virus? Let’s dive into everything you need to know about hand, foot, and mouth disease.

Understanding Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Various enteroviruses — those pesky bugs that love to hang out in children — cause hand, foot, and mouth disease. The disease usually shows up with symptoms like fever, sore throat, and blisters on the hands, feet, and inside the mouth. These blisters can make eating and drinking painful. While it’s most common in kids under five years of age, older children and adults can get hand, foot, and mouth disease too.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease spreads quickly through close contact, coughs, sneezes, and touching contaminated surfaces. It is very contagious. This means it can run rampant in places where kids gather, like daycare and school. The key to preventing its spread? Practicing good hygiene. Think about regular handwashing and keeping your distance from those who are infected.

How to Tell If Your Child Has Hand, Foot, and Mouth

Hand, foot, and mouth disease comes with a few telltale signs. While it can be hard for children, especially young children, to let you know how they’re feeling, there are a few things you can look out for:

• Fever: A spike in temperature often signals the onset of hand, foot, and mouth disease.
• Sore throat: Your little one might complain of discomfort or struggle with swallowing.
• Mouth sores: Keep an eye out for those painful blisters or ulcers inside the mouth, especially on the tongue, gums, and cheeks.
• Rash: Check for red spots or blisters on the hands, feet, and buttocks – they’re classic hand, foot, and mouth disease indicators.
• Mood changes: If your child suddenly becomes irritable or fussier than usual, those mouth sores could be the culprit.

Those blisters can pop up anywhere in the mouth, making eating and drinking a challenge. Keep an eye out for a rash too – red spots or blisters on the hands, feet, or your child’s bottom. If your child suddenly becomes fussier than normal, it’s likely due to painful sores.

What Does a Hand, Foot, and Mouth Rash Look Like?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease typically shows up as red blotches appearing on the palms of hands and soles of the feet. They may even appear on your child’s behind. Once the blotches begin to heal, they’ll leave behind ulcers or sores that are as red as a cherry. Other rashes might look different, so it’s important to spot these distinct hand, foot, and mouth disease symptoms.

How to Treat Hand, Foot, and Mouth?

At home, you can help ease your child’s discomfort. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be administered to tame the fever and keep those mouth sores at bay. Do not use ibuprofen in children who are less than 6 months old.

Cold treats like ice cream and popsicles can numb the pain and make swallowing easier. Be sure to keep the blisters clean by washing them with lukewarm water and soap, then cover each blister with antibiotic ointment if they burst. It’s also imperative that your child stays hydrated.

While there’s no cure for hand, foot, and mouth disease, urgent care centers can provide some much-needed relief. The physician-led team of healthcare professionals at MD Now® urgent care can provide medication to tackle the fever and soothe sores in the mouth. 

Should your little one start showing signs of dehydration (fewer trips to the bathroom, a dry mouth, or fatigue), a fever that lasts for more than three days, or difficulty swallowing, you need to seek attention from medical professionals like MD Now urgent care. If you notice pus, drainage, or swelling, don’t hesitate to seek medical help.

With 110 + locations across Florida, MD Now urgent care makes getting high-quality healthcare for hand, foot, and mouth disease easy and convenient. Just walk in or use our convenient Web Check-In® and tell us when you want to come in. You’ll receive a text message when it’s time for your visit. Find your nearest clinic and get the care you deserve today.

 About MD Now® Urgent Care

MD Now urgent care is Florida’s largest urgent care operator with more than 110 state-of-the-art clinics conveniently located across Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Duval, Hendry, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Saint Lucie, Sarasota, Seminole, and Volusia Counties. MD Now urgent care’s physician-led team of healthcare professionals provides high-quality healthcare through a comprehensive lineup of urgent care, preventative healthcare, and occupational health services during convenient hours. MD Now urgent care is proud to be affiliated with HCA Florida Healthcare. For more information, visit www.MDNOW.com.

Disclaimer: Patients’ health can vary. Always consult with a medical professional before taking medication, making health-related decisions, or deciding if medical advice is right for you.