Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is caused by a number of enteroviruses in the family Picornaviridae. One such virus is enterovirus 17. HFMD is not to be confused with foot-and-mouth disease, which is a disease affecting sheep, cattle and swine, and which is unrelated to HFMD (but also caused by a member of the Picornaviridae family).

HFMD usually affects infants and children, and is quite common. It is moderately contagious and is spread through direct contact with the mucus or feces of an infected person.

Symptoms

Symptoms of HFMD include:

fever
rash in the mouth
sores with blisters on palms of hands and soles of feet

Not all symptoms may be present.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for HFMD. Individual symptoms such as fever and pain from the sores may be eased with the use of medications, however.