About this topic
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by a virus. This infection causes fever, skin rashes, blisters, and mouth sores. The infection spreads easily from person to person. You can become sick if an infected person sneezes on you. You can also get sick if you come in contact with their saliva, stool, or fluid from the blisters. After getting infected, signs may appear after 3 to 6 days. ‚
The infection often goes away after 7 to 10 days even without treatment. Doctors may give treatment to relieve your signs. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Make sure not to press on or pick your blisters.
- Keep your blisters dry. They can easily break when moist or wet. Ask your doctor when it is safe to take a bath.
- Suck on ice chips or popsicles to relieve the soreness in your mouth and throat.
- The doctor may give you a salt water mouth rinse for mouth and throat pain. Gargle at least 3 times each day or after every meal.
- Drink lots of water and fluids to replace the fluids you lose from fever. Cool liquids will feel best to drink.
- Protect your feet. Wear cotton socks.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Lower fever
- Relieve itching
Will physical activity be limited?
- Limit your activity if you have rashes or blisters on the hands and feet. You may have problems walking and using your hands.
- Get lots of rest. Sleep when you are feeling tired. Avoid doing tiring activities.
What changes to diet are needed?
- Avoid citrus fruits that may make your mouth sores hurt.
- Eat soft foods like soups, pudding, and gelatin until the mouth sores heal.
What problems could happen?
- Loss of body fluid
- Infection
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 15 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers also work to kill the virus.
- If you are sick, cover your mouth and nose with tissue when you cough or sneeze. You can also cough into your elbow. Throw away tissues in the trash and wash your hands after touching used tissues.
- Do not get too close (kissing, hugging) to people who are sick.
- Do not share towels or hankies with anyone who is sick. Clean commonly handled things like door handles, remotes, toys, and phones. Wipe them with a disinfectant.
- Stay away from crowded places.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, mouth sores, wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the blister; pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the blister.
- You have trouble eating or drinking.
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Helpful tips
Throw your old toothbrush away after your mouth sores and blisters heal. ‚
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what changes I need to make with my drugs or activities.
- I can tell you ways to help prevent this infection.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have a fever; swelling, redness, or warmth around my wound; or I am not able to eat or drink.
Where can I learn more?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HandFootMouthDisease/ ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/skin/hfm.html ‚
National Organization for Rare Disorders ‚
http://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information/rare-diseases/byID/743/viewAbstract ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Hand-foot-and-mouth-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚