Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease: Symptoms

Content provided by Healthwise

Symptoms

Symptoms of hand-foot-and-mouth disease begin with a sudden onset of sore throat and a fever of around to . A child usually feels tired, not hungry, and generally unwell. About 1 or 2 days later, the child starts developing other symptoms that include:

• About 5 to 10 small sores or blisters on the inside and outside of the mouth. Mouth sores are often painful and may make it hard for your child to eat.
• Small red spots or blisters on the hands, feet, and sometimes the buttocks. Your child may have a skin rash before these blisters form. The blisters may break open and crust over. They usually last a total of about 7 to 10 days.
  • The hands usually have the most blisters. They typically form on the back of the hand and between the fingers. Blisters may form on the palm and finger pads also.
  • On the feet, blisters form mostly on the top, sides, and between the toes. Blisters may form on the bottom (soles) of the feet also.

Most children fully recover after the blisters have healed. In rare cases, skin sores come back and medical treatment is needed.

Adults who are infected with hand-foot-and-mouth disease may not be aware of it because they usually do not have symptoms. If symptoms develop, they are usually milder than those seen in children.

Last updated:	April 26, 2007
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Reviewed By:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine, Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC