Spotting hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD): a quick guide for parents.
When your toddler wakes up cranky with a fever and refuses to eat, your first thought probably isn't hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD).
But if you notice small blisters or sores in their mouth a day or two later, followed by a rash on their hands and feet, you might be dealing with this common childhood illness.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease sounds scarier than it actually is. While it's uncomfortable for kids and stressful for parents, it's usually mild and clears up on its own within a week or so. The key is knowing what to look for and when your child might need medical attention.
From recognizing the early symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease in children to understanding when to seek care, here's what every parent should know about hand, foot, and mouth disease.
What is hand, foot, and mouth disease?
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a virus that lots of young kids get, especially those under 5. It comes from viruses from the enterovirus family, the same group that causes things like the common cold, some stomach bugs, and certain types of meningitis.
What matters most is that it's a typical childhood illness that most kids encounter at some point. The disease spreads easily through close contact, which is why you’ll see it in daycare centers, preschools, and summer camps. Kids pick it up from touching the same toys, being near someone who's sick, or basically any surface an infected child has touched.
Sometimes daycares will close for a few days during outbreaks, but that's more about keeping other kids from catching it than anything scary. Studies show that most children recover completely without any problems.
Can adults get HFMD?
Yes, adults can get hand, foot, and mouth disease too, but it's much less common. When adults do catch it, symptoms are often milder than in children, though they can sometimes be more severe.
Early hand, foot, and mouth disease symptoms.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease symptoms usually develop in stages, which can help you figure out what's going on with your child.
The illness often starts with:
- Fever. Typically between 101-103°F (38.3-39.4°C).
- Fussiness or fatigue. Your child may seem unusually irritable or tired.
- Sore throat. Complaints of throat pain or refusal to eat or drink.
- General discomfort. Kids might appear “off” or low-energy.
Painful Mouth Symptoms
Within a day or two, mouth-related symptoms begin:
- Red spots or blisters. Usually appear on the tongue, gums, and inside cheeks.
- Painful sores. It can make eating and swallowing difficult.
- Increased drooling. Caused by pain when swallowing.
What does the HFMD rash look like?
A skin rash follows soon after the mouth symptoms:
- Rash on palms and soles. Flat red spots that can develop into small blisters.
- Non-itchy. HFMD rash typically does not itch.
- Other locations. It can appear on the buttocks, legs, arms, or around the mouth.
- Diaper area blisters. Sometimes seen in younger children
Additional HFMD symptoms to watch for.
Not every child experiences all symptoms, but you might also notice:
- Loss of appetite or refusal to eat.
- Mild cold-like symptoms. Runny nose or congestion.
- Nausea or stomach upset.
- No fever. Some cases occur without a fever.
The good news is that it is usually mild and self-limiting, with symptoms typically resolving within 7 to 10 days. The rash and mouth sores might take a bit longer to completely disappear, though.
Not all kids get every symptom, though. Some might have mouth sores without the rash, or vice versa. The fever doesn't always occur, either, especially in milder cases.
When to Visit Urgent Care for HFMD
Since hand-foot-mouth disease symptoms usually present with fever and sore throat as common symptoms, it may be difficult to distinguish it from strep throat without appropriate evaluation and testing. Checking for strep is easy and can be done at any CityMD.
Usually, you can take care of HFMD at home. Focus on plenty of rest, drinking enough, and keeping your child comfortable.
Clinicians at CityMD can appropriately evaluate this condition and make appropriate recommendations on how to treat it.
Occasionally, HFMD can have severe symptoms, particularly in very young children (less than 6 months old), or those with low immunity. If any of the below symptoms are present, the patient would need to be taken to the ER immediately for evaluation:
Seek urgent care if your child has:
- High fever (over 103°F) that doesn't respond to fever reducers
- Signs of dehydration, like decreased urination, dry mouth, or unusual sleepiness
- Severe mouth pain that prevents them from drinking fluids for more than a few hours
- Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
- Persistent vomiting that prevents keeping fluids down
- Signs of an infection on top of it, like pus-filled blisters or red streaking around sores
- Severe headache/neck stiffness
- Altered mental status
In general, this disease is self-limiting and does get better on its own with supportive care.
How to treat HFMD at home
Keep your child hydrated with cool liquids like popsicles, cold milk, or ice water. Avoid acidic drinks like orange juice that can irritate mouth sores.
Offer soft, bland foods and consider giving Tylenol or Motrin for fever and pain relief.
The key is knowing when home care isn't enough. Trust your instincts. If something seems wrong or your child is getting worse instead of better, don't hesitate to seek medical care.
Treat hand, foot, and mouth disease at CityMD.
If your child has symptoms that look like HFMD and you're worried, CityMD can help put your mind at ease. We see this all the time and can figure out if your child needs more treatment or if you're good at handling it at home. No appointment needed. We're here when you need reassurance and expert care.
We’re ready to care for you.
Visit any CityMD urgent care location in your community today for an evaluation with one of our expert providers.