Updated
Hand, foot and mouth disease: What parents should know
A guide to hand, foot and mouth disease in children, including symptoms, home care, and when to seek medical help.
Your child is not the general case. Ask about yours →
What it is
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common childhood illness that can also affect adults [4]. It is most common in children under 5 years old, but anyone can get it [2]. The illness is usually not serious, but it is very contagious [2]. It can spread quickly at schools and day care centers [2]. Most people get better on their own in 7 to 10 days [2][4]. Hand, foot and mouth disease is not the same as foot and mouth disease that affects farm animals [4].
Most children have mild symptoms for 7 to 10 days [2]. Symptoms may include:
- Fever [2]
- Sore throat [2]
- Painful mouth sores that blister [2]
- Rash commonly found on the hands and feet [2]
The illness is spread in coughs, sneezes, poo and the fluid in the blisters [3]. You can get it more than once [3]. You can start spreading it from a few days before you have any symptoms, but you’re most likely to spread it to others in the first 5 days after symptoms start [3]. Complications from HFMD are rare [2][7].
What you can do at home
Hand, foot and mouth disease usually gets better on its own in 7 to 10 days [6]. You cannot take antibiotics or other medicines to cure it [6]. To help the symptoms:
- Drink cool fluids to soothe the mouth and prevent dehydration, but avoid acidic drinks such as fruit juice [6]
- Eat soft foods like yoghurt and avoid hot, salty and spicy foods [6]
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to help ease a sore mouth or throat [6]
- Take over-the-counter medications to relieve fever and pain caused by mouth sores [9]
- Never give aspirin to children [9]
- Make sure your child drinks enough liquids to stay hydrated, as mouth sores can make it painful to swallow [9]
Ask a pharmacist for advice about treatments, such as mouth ulcer gels, sprays and mouthwashes, to relieve pain [1]. They can tell you which ones are suitable for children [1].
To reduce the risk of spreading hand, foot and mouth disease:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, and children’s hands too [3]
- Use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze [3]
- Bin used tissues as quickly as possible [3]
- Do not share towels or household items like cups or cutlery [3]
- Wash soiled bedding and clothing on a hot wash [3]
Keep your child off school or nursery while they’re feeling too unwell to go [10]. As soon as they’re feeling better, they can go back to school or nursery [10]. There’s no need to wait until all the blisters have healed [10]. Keeping your child away from other children for longer is unlikely to stop the illness spreading [10].
When to see a doctor or go to the emergency department
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
- Symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease do not improve after 7 to 10 days [1]
- You’re pregnant and get hand, foot and mouth disease [1]
Hand, foot and mouth disease can be spread to other people [1]. Check with your doctor’s surgery before going [1]. They may suggest a phone consultation [1].
Urgent advice: Ask your doctor for an urgent appointment or get medical advice if:
- You or your child has a very high temperature, or feels hot, cold or shivery [1]
- You’re worried about your child’s hand, foot and mouth disease symptoms [1]
- Your child has hand, foot and mouth disease and is peeing less than usual (they may be becoming dehydrated) [1]
If you are pregnant, contact your doctor if you think you may have been exposed to HFMD [7]. Although there’s usually no risk to the pregnancy or baby, it’s best to avoid close contact with anyone who has hand, foot and mouth disease [5]. This is because getting hand, foot and mouth disease shortly before giving birth can mean your baby is born with a mild version of it [5]. Speak to a GP or your midwife if you have been in contact with someone with hand, foot and mouth disease [5].
Common questions
Can my child go back to school before the blisters heal? Yes. As soon as they’re feeling better, they can go back to school or nursery [10]. There’s no need to wait until all the blisters have healed [10].
Can my child get hand, foot and mouth disease more than once? Yes, you can get it more than once [3].
How long is my child contagious? You can start spreading it from a few days before you have any symptoms, but you’re most likely to spread it to others in the first 5 days after symptoms start [3].
Sources
[1] NHS — “Hand, foot and mouth disease” (2024), section “A pharmacist can help with hand, foot and mouth disease”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hand-foot-mouth-disease/ [2] CDC — “About Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease”, section “About Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Key points”, p. 1 — https://www.cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/about/index.html [3] NHS — “Hand, foot and mouth disease” (2024), section “How to stop hand, foot and mouth disease spreading”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hand-foot-mouth-disease/ [4] NHS — “Hand, foot and mouth disease” (2024), section “Hand, foot and mouth disease”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hand-foot-mouth-disease/ [5] NHS — “Hand, foot and mouth disease” (2024), section “Hand, foot and mouth disease in pregnancy”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hand-foot-mouth-disease/ [6] NHS — “Hand, foot and mouth disease” (2024), section “How to treat hand, foot and mouth disease yourself”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hand-foot-mouth-disease/ [7] CDC — “About Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease”, section “Who is at risk”, p. 1 — https://www.cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/about/index.html [9] CDC — “About Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease”, section “Manage symptoms at home”, p. 1 — https://www.cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/about/index.html [10] NHS — “Hand, foot and mouth disease” (2024), section “Staying off school or nursery”, p. 1 — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hand-foot-mouth-disease/
This guide summarises published paediatric guidelines. It is not medical advice and does not replace your paediatrician. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
Free, no ads and no accounts — so a family who cannot pay for a paediatrician can still ask. If it helped you, help keep it that way. Support →