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Kids Health Info

Hand, foot and mouth disease

  • Key points

    • Hand, foot and mouth disease is an infection caused by a virus.
    • The virus causes a rash with spots or blisters on the hands, feet and buttocks, along with mouth ulcers.
    • Mouth ulcers can make it painful for your child to eat and drink.
    • In most cases, the infection lasts around a week.
    • If your child has hand, foot and mouth disease, you can care for them at home by ensuring they drink lots of fluids and giving them regular pain medicine.
    • The virus spreads easily from one person to another, so good hygiene measures, like regular hand washing, are important for you and your child.

    What is hand, foot and mouth disease?

    Hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral infection caused by the Coxsackie virus. Most children with this illness will get a rash with spots or blisters on their hands and feet, along with mouth ulcers.

    There is no vaccine to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease.

    While hand, foot and mouth disease is most common in pre-schoolers, anyone can become infected. It is possible to get the virus more than once, but the symptoms will be less severe.

    Signs and symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease

    The most common symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease are:

    • a rash with spots or blisters on the hands, feet and buttocks
    • blisters around the mouth and ulcers inside the mouth
    • tiredness
    • fever.

    HFMD foot

    Mouth blisters and ulcers can be painful – especially when your child is trying to eat and drink. Many children are often grumpy while unwell and do not sleep well.

    Hand, foot and mouth disease usually lasts from seven to 10 days.

    Sometimes, hand, foot and mouth disease can cause eczema to flare up.

    Very rarely, the illness can affect the brain or heart. In these cases, your child will seem unwell, often acting drowsy and looking pale. They may have stomach pain and shortness of breath, or rarely, seizures. If your child experiences these symptoms they should see a doctor.

    How to care for hand, foot and mouth at home

    Hand, foot and mouth disease is a mild illness that rarely causes complications. Antibiotics will not help, as they do not work on viruses.

    In most cases, hand, foot and mouth disease will get better on its own. To care for your child at home, you can:

    • encourage them to drink frequent sips of water or rehydration fluids like electrolytes to stop them getting dehydrated. You can try giving them a regular icy pole if they do not want to drink juice or oral rehydration solution.
    • leave blisters to dry naturally – do not pierce or squeeze them
    • give them pain relief medicine, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Do not give your child aspirin.

    If your child is unwell with a fever and a rash that does not turn skin colour (blanch) when you press on it, this may be a sign of meningococcal infection and requires urgent medical attention.

    When to get help

    Call an ambulance (000) if:
    • your child has a fever (temperature of 38°C or more) and a rash that does not turn skin-colour (blanch) when you press on it.

    Go to a hospital if:
    • your child is dehydrated and not drinking fluids despite giving them pain medicine.
    • your child looks very unwell and has symptoms like drowsiness, paleness, stomach pain, shortness of breath or seizures.

    See a doctor or health professional if:
    • your child is not drinking enough fluids, but you are unsure if they are dehydrated.
    • your child's red rash spots are larger than 3mm or are oozing pus (yellow milky fluid).

    Look after your child at home if:
    • they have a mild fever and seem otherwise well.
    • they are drinking enough fluids.

    Common questions about hand, foot and mouth disease

    How does hand, foot and mouth disease spread?

    Hand, foot and mouth disease spreads easily through fluid from the blisters, saliva and poo for up to a month after the infected person is better. To stop the spread of the virus, follow good hygiene measures like regular hand washing and do not share items like cups or cutlery.

    Is there a difference in caring for hand, foot and mouth in babies compared to older children?

    The main difference in caring for children of different ages with hand, foot and mouth disease is how you keep them drinking fluids. If your child is young and refusing to drink enough, you may need to give them fluids using a syringe. Older children might find drinking with a straw or eating icy poles easier.

    Is hand, foot and mouth disease in people the same as foot and mouth disease found in animals?

    Foot and mouth disease in animals is an entirely different disease from hand, foot and mouth disease in humans.

    Can children get hand, foot and mouth disease more than once?

    Your child can get hand, foot and mouth disease more than once. This is because there are different types of hand, foot and mouth disease viruses, and each can cause a new infection.

    Can adults get hand, foot and mouth disease?

    Adults can get hand, foot and mouth disease, but it is usually much milder than in children.

    Is hand, foot and mouth disease dangerous for pregnant women?

    Hand, foot and mouth disease is not known to be dangerous for pregnant women or their unborn babies.

    How long is hand, foot and mouth disease contagious for?

    Hand, foot and mouth disease is contagious for up to a month after symptoms first show, but it spreads most easily in the first week of infection.

    Can my child go to child care or school with hand, foot and mouth?

    Your child should not go to childcare or school with hand, foot and mouth disease until the fluid in their blisters has dried up. Otherwise, they will be very contagious to other children.

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      Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital Emergency department. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.

      Reviewed May 2025

      Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.


    Disclaimer

    This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. The authors of these consumer health information handouts have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and easy to understand. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed in these handouts. Information contained in the handouts is updated regularly and therefore you should always check you are referring to the most recent version of the handout. The onus is on you, the user, to ensure that you have downloaded the most up-to-date version of a consumer health information handout.