Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease in Children
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease: What Ontario Parents Need to Know
Seeing those telltale spots on your child's hands and mouth can be alarming, but hand, foot and mouth disease is usually mild and clears up on its own within a week. While it's contagious and uncomfortable, most kids bounce back quickly with some simple care at home.
What's going on?
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common viral infection that mostly affects children under 5, though older kids and adults can get it too. It's caused by viruses in the enterovirus family, most often coxsackievirus A16 or enterovirus 71.
The name tells you exactly where the rash appears, though not every child gets spots in all three places. Some kids might only have mouth sores or just the hand and foot rash. It spreads easily through saliva, nasal secretions, fluid from blisters, and even stool, which is why it moves quickly through daycares and playgroups.
Despite the scary-sounding name, hand, foot and mouth disease is usually a mild illness that runs its course in 7 to 10 days. It's completely different from foot-and-mouth disease that affects farm animals, so don't worry about any connection there.
What you might notice
- Fever, often the first sign
- Sore throat or mouth pain
- Small red spots or blisters on palms, fingers, soles of feet, and toes
- Painful sores or blisters in the mouth, tongue, and gums
- Fussiness and decreased appetite
- General feeling of being unwell
What helps at home
Focus on keeping your child comfortable while their body fights off the virus. Offer plenty of fluids, especially cold ones like popsicles or milk, which can soothe a sore throat. Soft, bland foods work best when eating is painful. Think yogurt, applesauce, or soup rather than anything acidic or spicy.
For pain and fever, you can give acetaminophen or ibuprofen following the package directions for your child's age and weight. Never give aspirin to children under 18. Cool washcloths can provide relief when applied to skin blisters.
Keep your child home from daycare or school until fever is gone for 24 hours and they're feeling well enough to participate normally. Good handwashing is your best defense against spreading it to others in your household.
When to worry
Head to the emergency room if your child shows signs of dehydration like dry mouth, no tears when crying, or hasn't had a wet diaper in over 8 hours. Also seek immediate care if they have severe headache, neck stiffness, trouble breathing, or seems unusually drowsy.
Call your doctor or text Arlo if the fever lasts more than 3 days, mouth sores are so painful your child won't drink fluids, or you're concerned about how your child is doing. We're here to help you feel confident about managing symptoms at home.
The takeaway
Hand, foot and mouth disease sounds scarier than it usually is. With some TLC and patience, your little one will be back to their normal self soon.
You can always text Arlo and talk to a provider in 5 minutes!
References
- [Hand, foot and mouth disease - Caring for Kids](https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/health-conditions-and-treatments/hand-foot-and-mouth-disease)
- [Hand, foot and mouth disease - AboutKidsHealth](https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=765&language=English)
- [Hand, foot and mouth disease - Public Health Ontario](https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/diseases-and-conditions/infectious-diseases/respiratory-diseases/hfmd)