Important Info: What to Do if Your Child Has Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

As a parent, it’s always concerning when your little one isn’t feeling well, especially when they come down with something as uncomfortable as hand, foot, and mouth disease — HFMD, in short. While it’s common among children and usually not severe, knowing what to expect and how to care for your child can help ease some of that worry. Let me walk you through everything you need to know about this viral illness so you can feel more confident managing it at home.

What to Do if Your Child Has Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

What is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a viral infection, most often caused by the coxsackievirus. It’s characterized by fever, sores in the mouth, and a rash on the hands and feet (hence the name!). It’s one of those childhood illnesses that tends to come on suddenly and causes a fair amount of discomfort, but the good news is that it’s almost always mild and resolves on its own within a week or so.

What Age Group is Most Affected By HFMD?

HFMD is most common in children under five, though kids up to age 10 can also get it. Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers are particularly susceptible because they’re constantly exploring their environment with their hands and mouths, and they spend a lot of time in close contact with other kids. Daycare facilities playschools and preschools are common sites for outbreaks. While it’s less frequent, adults can contract the virus too, especially if they have close contact with young children.

Symptoms of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Symptoms usually start to appear 3–7 days after exposure, and you might first notice your child seems a little more tired or irritable than usual. A mild fever is often one of the first signs. Soon after, painful sores may develop in the mouth, especially on the tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks, making it uncomfortable for your child to eat or drink. Around this time, you may also see red spots or blisters on the hands, feet, and sometimes even on the buttocks or legs.

The skin lesions are 2–6 millimeters in size, and are not painful or itchy. The blisters may burst, leaving reddish sores. Unlike chicken pox, HFMD doesn’t leave scars.

Typical symptoms include:

• Fever (often one of the first signs)
• Sore throat
• Painful sores in the mouth
• Rash on the hands, feet, or other parts of the body
• Irritability in infants and toddlers
• Decreased appetite or refusal to eat due to mouth pain

It’s important to keep an eye on your child’s nutrition and hydration during this time. Since eating and drinking are uncomfortable, they might not eat and drink enough and dehydration is a danger. Watch for signs like a dry mouth, fewer wet diapers, peeing less often, and sunken eyes.

Is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Contagious?

Yes, HFMD is quite contagious. It can spread through direct contact with the saliva, mucus, blister fluid, or feces of an infected person. That means things like coughing, sneezing, touching contaminated surfaces, or changing diapers can pass the virus along. It’s especially contagious during the first week of illness, but the virus can be present in the body for weeks after symptoms have gone away, meaning your child can still pass it to others even if they’re feeling better.

How Can We Avoid the Spread HFMD?

As parents, our best defense against HFMD is good hygiene practices. Here are some things you can do to help prevent the spread of the virus in your home or community:

• Frequent handwashing: Teach your child to wash their hands regularly, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after changing diapers or helping your child with the toilet.
• Disinfect surfaces: Toys, doorknobs, and frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned often, especially if someone in the household is infected.
• Avoid close contact: If your child is sick, keep them home from school or daycare until they are no longer contagious. Avoid kissing, hugging, or sharing utensils or towels with others in the household.

How Long is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Contagious?

HFMD is most contagious in the first week of illness, but the virus can still be present in your child’s system for several weeks after symptoms disappear. During this time, they can continue to spread the virus to others, even though they appear to be healthy. In most cases, children can return to daycare or school once their fever has subsided, and the mouth sores and blisters have started to heal.

How is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Treated?

There’s no specific treatment for Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, as it’s a viral infection, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do. Symptom management is key, and making your child as comfortable as possible can go a long way. Here’s what I recommend:

• Pain relief: Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help reduce fever and ease the discomfort from mouth sores and body aches. Be sure to check with your pediatrician for the correct dosage based on your child’s age and weight.
• Keep them hydrated: Mouth sores can make drinking painful, so try offering cold liquids, smoothies, or popsicles to soothe their throat and keep them hydrated. Avoid acidic drinks like orange juice, which can irritate the sores.
• Soft foods: Stick to soft, easy-to-swallow foods like yogurt, mashed potatoes, and applesauce while your child’s mouth is sore.

Most children will recover completely in about 7–10 days, and the best treatment is often patience and lots of TLC.

What Are the Danger Signs to Watch for?

Most children recover completely in a week or so, but some children have severe disease or complications. Watch for these red flags and take your child to your healthcare provider or emergency room.

• High fever that doesn’t respond to medicine doses
• Seizures
• Deep sleep, unrousable.
• Dehydration signs
• Meningitis signs — headache, stiff neck, high fever, and back pain.

Can Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Recur?

Yes, unfortunately, HFMD can come back. Since it can be caused by different strains of viruses, having it once doesn’t mean you’re immune for life. While a child may develop immunity to the specific strain they were infected with, they can still catch it again if exposed to another strain.

Can a Child Be Breastfed if They Have HFMD?

Absolutely! If your child is still breastfeeding, it’s perfectly safe to continue. In fact, breast milk provides crucial antibodies that can help support their immune system during the illness. However, if the mouth sores are making nursing painful for your baby, you may want to try expressing milk and offering it in a bottle, which might be gentler on their mouth.

Can Adults Get Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease?

Yes, adults can contract HFMD, though it’s less common. In most cases, adults experience milder symptoms than children, but they can still carry and spread the virus. If you’re caring for a child with HFMD, practice good hygiene, wash your hands frequently, and avoid close contact with their sores or bodily fluids.

Can a Mother Breastfeed if She Has HFMD?

If you, as a mother, develop HFMD, you can still breastfeed your child. The virus is not transmitted through breast milk, and the antibodies you produce can provide protective benefits for your baby. Just be sure to wash your hands often and avoid touching any of your own blisters while handling or feeding your baby. If you have blisters on your breasts, express milk and feed the baby using a bottle until the sores heal.

Summing Up

Hand, foot, and mouth disease, while uncomfortable, is usually mild and can be managed at home with proper care and patience. As parents, it’s natural to feel worried when your child is sick, but knowing what to expect, how to treat the symptoms, and how to prevent the spread can make a big difference. Remember that most children recover fully within a week to 10 days, and serious complications are rare.

Stay mindful of hygiene practices to limit the spread, and ensure your child stays hydrated and comfortable during their recovery. If you ever have concerns or if your child’s symptoms seem to worsen or persist longer than expected, don’t hesitate to consult your pediatrician. With care and time, your child will be back to their healthy, energetic self before you know it!