From the Research
Yes, hand, foot, and mouth disease can affect adults, though it's more common in children under 10 years old. Adults can contract the virus through close contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces, as stated in the study published in the American Family Physician in 2019 1. When adults get infected, they may experience milder symptoms or be asymptomatic while still being contagious. Typical symptoms include fever, sore throat, painful red blisters in the mouth, and a rash on the hands, feet, and sometimes buttocks.
Treatment and Prevention
Treatment is supportive, focusing on pain relief with acetaminophen or ibuprofen (follow package dosing instructions), staying hydrated, and using saltwater gargles for mouth sores. The illness typically resolves within 7-10 days without specific antiviral treatment, as noted in the study published in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine in 2014 2. Adults with the disease should practice good hygiene, avoid close contact with others, and stay home from work to prevent spreading the infection.
Key Considerations
Some key points to consider include:
- The disease can be associated with complications, leading to severe neurological sequelae and, rarely, to death, as highlighted in the European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases in 2018 3.
- People with weakened immune systems may experience more severe symptoms and should consult a healthcare provider if infected.
- Vaccines able to confer protection against the most common aetiologic agents in a given country have been developed, but simultaneous circulation of more than one causative virus and modification of the molecular epidemiology of infectious agents make preparations based on a single agent relatively inadequate, as discussed in the European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases in 2018 3.
Recommendations
The best methods to prevent the spread of hand-foot-and-mouth disease are handwashing and disinfecting potentially contaminated surfaces and fomites, as recommended in the American Family Physician in 2019 1. Adults with the disease should prioritize staying hydrated, practicing good hygiene, and avoiding close contact with others to prevent spreading the infection.