Hand, foot, mouth disease is a highly contagious. Usually seen in kids less than five years old. You could see that in adults as well, but more so in kids than in adults.
It is primarily a childhood illness, seen commonly in kids less than five years old, but adults can get it, too. When adults get it, it is much more milder than how kids present with it.
Kids that have hand, foot, mouth disease, they usually present with low grade fever, just not feeling well. Decreased appetite, not drinking very well, so the parents bring them to our office. We check them out; a lot of non-specific symptoms, but two or three days later is when they start developing these red spots which are usually in the oral cavity, can be in the palm of their hands and some sores on their feet. As the name explains, it's in the mouth, in the hands, and the feet as well.
Hand, foot, mouth disease is a viral illness. Antibiotics do not work for it, so it comes down to just symptomatic treatment. So, if the kid has fever, then over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen will help bring down the fever. If they aren't able to eat or drink, these kids are more prone to get dehydrated, so parents and caregivers need to make sure that they are keeping them hydrated. Offering anything cold, like popsicles or ice cream, may help numb the pain that they have. And also something soft, like yogurt or applesauce, can help them with the swallowing.
We usually see more cases of hand, foot, mouth disease during summer. But it can happen in spring and fall, as well.
Hand, foot, mouth disease is highly contagious. So, when someone who has the disease sneezes or coughs, the people around them will inhale the droplets or can pick up the virus. It's also spread through the blister fluids and also in the stool. People who take care of kids who have had hand, foot, mouth disease, especially in diaper change, need to make sure they wash their hands with soap and water thoroughly to prevent the spread.
Surfaces that come in contact with either these droplets or blister fluid can have the viruses, and that's another way of getting it. So, in daycare centers or even at home, to wipe down the tables and toys and doorknobs, which can actually have the virus and spread.
