Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common childhood illness that can affect adults. It usually clears up by itself in 7 to 10 days.
Check if it's hand, foot and mouth disease
The first signs of hand, foot and mouth disease can be:
a sore throat
a high temperature, above 38C
not wanting to eat.
After a few days mouth ulcers and a rash will appear.
The symptoms are usually the same in adults and children, but can be much worse in adults.
It's possible to get hand, foot and mouth disease more than once.
How to treat hand, foot and mouth disease yourself
You cannot take antibiotics or medicines to cure hand, foot and mouth disease. It has to run its course. It usually gets better in 7 to 10 days.
To help with the symptoms:
drink fluids to prevent dehydration – avoid acidic drinks, such as fruit juice
eat soft foods like soup – avoid hot and spicy foods
take paracetamol or ibuprofen to help ease a sore mouth or throat.
A pharmacist can help with hand, foot and mouth disease
Speak to a pharmacist for advice about treatments, such as mouth ulcer gels, sprays and mouthwashes, to relieve pain.
They can tell you which ones are suitable for children.
How to stop hand, foot and mouth disease spreading
Hand, foot and mouth disease is easily passed on to other people. It's spread in coughs, sneezes and poo.
You're infectious from a few days before you have any symptoms, but you're most likely to give it to others in the first 5 days after symptoms start.
To reduce the risk of spreading hand, foot and mouth disease:
wash your hands often with warm soapy water – and teach children to do so
use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze
bin used tissues as quickly as possible
do not share towels or household items like cups or cutlery
wash soiled bedding and clothing on a hot wash
Staying off school or nursery
Keep your child off school or nursery while they're feeling unwell.
But as soon as they're feeling better, they can go back to school or nursery. There's no need to wait until all the blisters have healed.
Keeping your child off for longer is unlikely to stop the illness spreading.
More Information: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hand-foot-mouth-disease/
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