January 14, 2025, 10:08 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Many people first hear about hand-foot-and-mouth disease when they become parents of young children. However, adults can also contract it. What lies behind the infection and how to recognize it.
If you have a young child at home, you’re used to runny noses or coughs. Especially when the little ones are in kindergarten, illnesses among kids and often their parents are guaranteed. One infectious disease that children frequently catch is hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD).
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Overview
Symptoms of Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease
It happens through sneezing, coughing, or shared toys: children, in particular, get hand-foot-and-mouth disease. The name itself hints at typical symptoms. Those affected often develop painful blisters in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. However, there are earlier signs that indicate the disease.
It usually starts with fever, reduced appetite, and sore throat. One to two days later, small red spots appear in the mouth, specifically on the oral mucosa–mainly on the tongue and gums. These develop into the aforementioned blisters. Another one to two days later, the rash follows. It can appear on the palms and soles, but also in the knee pits, elbows, buttocks, and genital area. Itching with the rash is possible but rare.
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What Lies Behind the Disease?
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is caused by viruses. The Coxsackie virus is primarily responsible, which can also cause colds or meningitis. The pathogen is transmitted from person to person. Infection is possible through direct contact, such as with bodily fluids like nasal and throat secretions, saliva, or fluid from the blisters. The virus can also be transmitted through feces (child’s diapers) and contaminated surfaces. This includes objects like doorknobs, cutlery, and toys. Those affected are highly contagious, especially during the first week of the disease.
How Does the Disease Progress?
In most cases, the disease has a mild course. Those affected recover within five to seven days–even without medical treatment. It is assumed that 80 percent of all people do not even notice they have “hand-foot-and-mouth” because they do not develop symptoms. Such asymptomatic courses occur mainly in adults. For those with symptoms, they usually subside within about a week.
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What Does the Treatment Look Like?
There is no specific therapy for hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Due to its mild course, special medical treatment is usually not necessary after diagnosis. Adults affected or parents of sick children can alleviate symptoms with pain relievers and fever reducers. And very important: always drink enough!
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When Should You Seek Medical Advice?
Even though the disease usually has a mild course and can be well managed at home, there are situations where you should quickly seek medical advice:
- the sick child is younger than six months old
- the sick child drinks too little, leading to lethargy
- the fever lasts longer than three days
- the symptoms have not improved after ten days
- the affected person has unusually severe symptoms
- in cases of seizures, severe headaches, neck stiffness, unconsciousness