Hand, foot and mouth disease
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 throata high temperature, above 38Cnot wanting to eat After a few days mouth ulcers and a rash will appear.
Ulcers appear in the mouth and on the tongue. These can be painful and make it difficult to eat or drink.
The symptoms are usually the same in adults and children, but will be much worse in adults.It's possible to get hand and mouth disease more than once.
If you're not sure it's hand, foot and mouth diseaseLook at other childhood rashes.
Information:
Hand, foot and mouth disease has nothing to do with foot and mouth disease that affects farm animals.
How to treat hand, foot and mouth disease yourself
You are prevented 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 juiceeat soft foods like soup – avoid hot and spicy foodstake paracetamol or ibuprofen to help ease a sore mouth or throat
A pharmacist will 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 willtell you which ones are suitable for children.
Find a pharmacy
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
your symptoms do not improve after 7 to 10 daysyou or your child has a very high temperature, or feels hot and shiveryyou're worried about your child's symptomsyour child is dehydrated – they're not peeing as soonas usualyou're pregnant and get hand, foot and mouth diseaseHand, foot and mouth disease is infectious.Check with your GP surgery before going. They may suggest a phone consultation.
Information:
Coronavirus update: how to contact a GPIt's still important to get help from a GP if you need it. To contact your GP surgery:visit their websiteuse the NHS Appcall themFind out about using the NHS during coronavirus
How to stop hand, foot and mouth disease spreadingHand, 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 .
To reduce the risk of spreading hand, foot and mouth disease:
wash your hands often with warm soapy water – and teach children to do souse tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneezebin used tissues as quickly as possibledo not share towels or household items like cups or cutlerywash soiled bedding and clothing on a hot washStaying off school or nurseryKeep your child off school or nursery while they're feeling unwell.But as soon as they're gettingbetter, they may 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.