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Return to directoryHand, Foot and Mouth Disease (coxsackievirus)
What is Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease?
- Hand, Foot and Mouth disease is an illness caused by a virus called Coxsackie, group A.
- It occurs mostly in children under 10, but adult cases can occur.
- It is more common in summer and fall.
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What signs and symptoms can you have?
- Some people may have no symptoms.
- A person can develop symptoms three to five days after being in contact with an infected person.
- Symptoms include:
- fever for 1 – 2 days;
- a rash with small fluid-filled blisters in the mouth, on the hands, feet and sometimes on the buttocks or groin;
- small red spots on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. The spots may turn into small blisters;
- blisters in the mouth may break and appear as small ulcers on the tongue and inside of the cheeks;
- the rash can last for seven to ten days.
- Other common symptoms are headache, sore throat, loss of appetite and lack of energy.
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How does a child get hand, foot and mouth disease?
- It is spread from person to person by contact with fluids from the mouth and nose.
- The stool of an infected person contains the virus for several weeks after symptoms have disappeared.
- The virus can be passed from the fluid in the blisters.
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Quick Facts
- It is a childhood illness caused by a virus.
- Causes rash in mouth and on hands and feet.
- May cause blisters in the mouth.
- Wash hands frequently to prevent the spread.
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How do you treat hand, foot and mouth disease?
- There is no specific treatment for this disease.
- Discuss treatment for your child’s fever with your health care provider.
- Children with a rash should see their doctor.
- Offer plenty of clear, cool fluids.
- A person with fever or diarrhea needs to be excluded from day care or school.
- Children with the disease may return to the day care or school when they are feeling well enough to participate in activities.
- During an outbreak, Public Health Services may recommend that children with open lesions on hands or in the mouth be excluded from day care.
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How can you help prevent hand, foot and mouth disease?
- Good personal hygiene is the best protection against the spread of disease. This includes:
- washing hands frequently;
- keeping hands away from nose and mouth;
- cleaning shared toys well with soap and water;
- not sharing personal items such as a toothbrush, towel or water bottle.
- Always thoroughly wash hands:
- after using the toilet;
- after diapering a child;
- before preparing or handling food;
- before eating.
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For more information, contact your doctor, local Public Health Nurse, or the Saskatchewan Healthline at www.healthlineonline.ca or 1-877-800-0002.
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Reproduced with permission from Population and Public Health ServicesRegina Qu’Appelle Health Region.
Revised January 23, 2013.