September 2026
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious viral illness that typically affects young children (under 5), though it can also affect older children and adults. While the illness starts with cold symptoms, it progresses to a rash on the hands and feet and sores or blisters inside the mouth — hence the name.
Learn more about how kids catch HFMD, what the symptoms are, how to treat it, and when to call a doctor.
What are the symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease?
If your child contracts HFMD, you may initially think they just have a common cold virus. That’s because the disease typically starts with cold symptoms: fever, sore throat, and runny nose.
But then the disease progresses to a rash on the hands and feet — and sores in the mouth.
How does hand, foot, and mouth disease spread?
HFMD is highly contagious and spreads in multiple ways. HFMD can spread through contact with:
- Infectious droplets from the sick person, produced when that person talks, coughs, or sneezes.
- Fluid from mouth blisters.
- Fecal matter (poop), especially from a child’s diaper.
You can also catch HFMD if you touch a surface or object that has infected particles on it and then touch your face or mouth. For example, you touch a toy that a young child had in their mouth while they had oozing blisters and then touch your own mouth, nose, or eyes.
How long is hand, foot, and mouth disease contagious?
Part of why HFMD is so easily spread is that children can be contagious for a surprising amount of time. Kids with HFMD can shed the virus for one to three weeks — and the virus can be present in their poop for weeks, or even months, after the infection started.
How to treat hand, foot, and mouth disease
HFMD is a common childhood illness that is typically mild and does not require medical treatment. Instead, you can treat symptoms at home.
Fever and pain relief (sore throat, mouth blisters): Use over-the-counter pain relievers (such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen) to manage fever and pain. Do not give aspirin to children. If you are unsure about the dose or how often to give, ask your child’s pediatrician or your local pharmacist.
Dehydration prevention: Mouth sores and blisters can make kids not want to eat or drink. But this puts them at risk for dehydration. So do whatever you can to encourage them to drink. Try having them take a few sips every 10 to 15 minutes, and offer them their favorite beverages. Popsicles can also be a great way to hydrate and provide some temporary mouth-numbing from the cold. Just stay away from acidic beverages, like orange juice, that can make sores and blisters hurt more.
Targeted blister pain relief: If your child is over the age of one, ask your child’s pediatrician or your local pharmacist about liquid mouth-soothing remedies to treat the pain from sores and blisters.
How to prevent hand, foot, and mouth disease
Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for HFMD. All you can do is try not to catch or spread it.
Wash your hands often. It’s especially important to wash your hands after changing diapers, wiping your child’s nose, using the toilet, before eating or preparing food, and any time you come home from a public place. You should also wash your hands after you blow your nose — and after you cough or sneeze into your hand. Use soap and water when available and scrub for at least 20 seconds.
Make sure your child washes their hands regularly. The same guidance about how and when applies to children, regardless of age. Use these tips to make handwashing fun.
Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands. It’s especially important that you avoid your eyes, nose, and mouth — all of which are areas where virus particles can enter the body and cause infection.
Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces. This includes common surfaces (such as doorknobs, handles, light switches, and faucets) and shared items (such as toys).
When to call a doctor for hand, foot, and mouth disease?
HFMD can mostly be managed at home. But don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s pediatrician if you have any concerns. You should seek medical advice for any of the following:
- Signs of dehydration. This includes no tears when crying, dry mouth, fewer or no wet diapers, and wrinkled skin.
- Fever. A fever above 104°F — or above 100.4°F in a child less than three months old — should trigger seeking medical advice. You should also seek medical advice if they have a fever for more than three days, even if it’s not above 104°F.
- Symptoms seem to be getting worse rather than improving.
- You are unsure whether the rash or symptoms are actually HFMD.
Seek emergency medical care if your child experiences difficulty breathing, extreme drowsiness, a stiff neck, or seizures.
