What is hand, foot, and mouth disease?

From the Guidelines

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common viral illness that primarily affects infants and children under 5 years old, though adults can also contract it, caused by enteroviruses, most commonly the Coxsackievirus A16, as noted in a study on enterovirus diagnostics and characterization 1. The disease typically begins with fever, reduced appetite, sore throat, and a general feeling of being unwell. Within one to two days after the fever starts, painful sores can develop in the mouth, and a rash with red spots or blisters may appear on the hands, feet, buttocks, and sometimes the genital area. Some key points about the disease include:

• It is highly contagious and can spread through close personal contact, respiratory droplets, and contact with contaminated surfaces or feces.
• Good hygiene practices, including regular handwashing and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, are essential for prevention, as emphasized in guidelines for hand hygiene in health-care settings 1.
• The illness usually resolves on its own within 7-10 days.
• Treatment focuses on symptom relief through over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) at age-appropriate doses, cold foods like popsicles to soothe mouth sores, and plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. The importance of hand hygiene in preventing the spread of hand, foot, and mouth disease cannot be overstated, with alcohol-based hand rubs being a preferred method of hand hygiene in most situations due to their convenience, rapid action, and high effectiveness in inactivating microbes 1.

From the Research

Definition and Characteristics of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

• Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a viral illness commonly seen in young children under 5 years of age, characterized by typical manifestations such as oral herpes and rashes on the hands and feet 2.
• The disease is caused by enteroviruses, with Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus A71 being the major etiological agents 3.
• HFMD typically resolves spontaneously within a few days without complications, but it can be associated with potentially fatal neurological complications and severe cardiopulmonary complications 2.

Clinical Presentation and Epidemiology

• The most common clinical characteristics of HFMD include vesiculopapular rash on the hands and feet, and painful deglutition 3.
• The disease is highly contagious and has a predilection for the nervous system, particularly in child populations, which contributes to the ongoing outbreak 2.
• HFMD cases typically surge during summer and autumn months, and the incidence of cases decreases with the increase in age 4, 3.
• The disease can also affect adults, especially immunocompromised individuals, and can be transmitted from child to adult 5.

Treatment and Prevention

• There is no specific pharmaceutical intervention for HFMD, but an inactivated Enterovirus A71 vaccine has been approved by the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) and has been shown to provide a high level of protection against EV-A71-related HFMD 2.
• Awareness programs and promotion of hygiene are essential to prevent contact cases and reduce the spread of the disease 3.
• Early detection is vital in preventing outbreaks and transmission, and pediatricians and dermatologists should be aware of HFMD incidence and its complications 6.