What is hand-foot-mouth syndrome?
Hand-foot-mouth syndrome is a common infectious disease that occurs in most cases in children, and can also affect adolescents and occasionally adults. It is a contagious infection usually caused by the Coxsackie virus. In most cases, the disease is mild and may improve over time. Treatment is directed at the symptoms.
What are the symptoms?
The infection appears with sore throat, fever (38º C) for 1-2 days, malaise and loss of appetite.
Later, 1-2 days later, painful ulcerations appear on the tongue and inner part of the lips and cheeks. This is followed by small painful blisters (vesicles) on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
You should not burst these blisters, which eventually disappear on their own in 7-10 days.
How is it transmitted?
Transmission is made by contact with:
-
respiratory
- tract secretions
- secretions from hand sores
- contact with faeces of infected patients
What is the contagion period?
The contagion phase of hand-foot-mouth syndrome is during the first week of illness. However, even after cure, the person may continue to shed the virus through the stool, which keeps it contagious for days or even weeks after the symptoms have disappeared.
What is the incubation period?
The incubation period is 3 to 6 days.
I had hand-foot-mouth syndrome, can I have it again?
yes. Having the hand-foot-mouth syndrome disease does not guarantee immunity, so it is possible to become infected again.
Source: Directorate-General for Health (DGS)