How Do You Get Hand Foot And Mouth? Complete Guide

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral infection that mostly affects young children, but adults can get it too. You get it from direct contact with an infected person’s saliva, fluid from their blisters, or their stool. It spreads very easily in places like daycare centers and schools, usually through touching contaminated surfaces or breathing in droplets from a cough or sneeze.

What Exactly Causes Hand, Foot, And Mouth Disease?

Several viruses cause HFMD. The most common ones belong to a group called enteroviruses. In the United States, coxsackievirus A16 is the usual culprit. Enterovirus 71 is another cause, and it can sometimes lead to more serious complications, though this is less common in the US than in some parts of Asia.

These viruses live in the digestive tract. They are highly contagious and spread easily from person to person. The infection typically runs its course in 7 to 10 days, and most people recover fully without any medical treatment.

How Do You Get Hand Foot And Mouth From Other People?

The virus spreads through several routes. The most common ways include:

• Respiratory droplets: When an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, tiny droplets containing the virus can reach your mouth, nose, or eyes.
• Contact with blisters: Touching the fluid from an infected person’s rash or blisters can spread the virus.
• Fecal-oral spread: The virus is present in stool. If someone does not wash their hands well after using the bathroom, they can pass the virus to surfaces, food, or other people.
• Contaminated surfaces: The virus can live on doorknobs, toys, countertops, and other objects for a period of time. Touching these surfaces and then touching your face can cause infection.

People are most contagious during the first week of symptoms. But the virus can stay in the stool for weeks after the person feels better, meaning they can still spread it even after recovery.

How Long Is Hand, Foot, And Mouth Contagious?

You are most contagious during the first 3 to 5 days of illness. This is when symptoms are at their peak. However, the virus can be shed in the stool for several weeks after symptoms disappear.

Children should stay home from school or daycare while they have a fever and until their blisters have dried up. This usually takes about a week. Since the virus can still be in the stool, careful handwashing after bathroom use is essential for several weeks after the illness.

What Are The First Signs Of Hand, Foot, And Mouth?

Symptoms usually appear 3 to 6 days after exposure to the virus. This is called the incubation period. The first signs are often a fever, sore throat, and reduced appetite. A day or two later, painful mouth sores and a skin rash develop.

The rash typically appears on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It can also show up on the knees, elbows, buttocks, or genital area. The rash may look like flat red spots or small blisters. Some people, especially adults, have no symptoms at all but can still spread the virus.

Mouth sores usually appear on the tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks. They start as small red spots that can blister and become painful. In young children, these sores can make eating and drinking difficult.

Can Adults Get Hand, Foot, And Mouth?

Yes, adults can get HFMD, though it is less common. Most adults have some immunity from exposure during childhood. When adults do get it, symptoms are often similar but can be more severe.

Adults who live with or care for infected children are at the highest risk. The illness is usually mild, but some adults develop a more widespread rash or more painful mouth sores. The same treatment and recovery timeline applies to adults as to children.

How Is Hand, Foot, And Mouth Treated?

There is no specific antiviral medication for HFMD. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms. The illness is viral, so antibiotics do not help.

For fever and pain, over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help. Do not give aspirin to children or teenagers because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious condition.

Mouth sores can make swallowing painful. Cold foods like ice cream, yogurt, and smoothies can be soothing. Avoid salty, spicy, or acidic foods that can irritate the sores. Staying hydrated is important, especially for young children who may refuse to drink.

If a child cannot drink enough fluids, dehydration becomes a real risk. Signs of dehydration include dry mouth, no tears when crying, and decreased urination. If you notice these signs, contact a doctor.

How Do You Prevent Hand, Foot, And Mouth From Spreading?

There is no vaccine for HFMD in the United States. Prevention relies on good hygiene practices. The most effective measure is frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before preparing food.

Other prevention steps include:

• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and toys
• Avoiding close contact such as kissing, hugging, or sharing utensils with infected people
• Teaching children to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or their elbow
• Keeping children home from school or daycare while they have symptoms

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are less effective against this virus than soap and water. The virus is not easily killed by alcohol. Soap and water physically wash the virus away, which is more reliable.

When Should You See A Doctor?

Most cases of HFMD are mild and resolve on their own. But some situations warrant medical attention. Contact a doctor if your child has a fever higher than 103°F, shows signs of dehydration, or is not drinking enough fluids.

Seek medical care immediately if your child seems very sick, is lethargic, has a stiff neck, or is difficult to wake. These can be signs of a more serious complication, such as viral meningitis. While rare, this can occur with certain enteroviruses.

In adults, see a doctor if symptoms are severe, if you have a weakened immune system, or if symptoms do not improve after 10 days.

Can You Get Hand, Foot, And Mouth More Than Once?

Yes, you can get HFMD more than once. This is because several different viruses can cause the disease. Having one strain does not protect you from the others.

Even within the same virus family, immunity may not be lifelong. A person who had HFMD from coxsackievirus A16 is protected against that specific strain for a while, but can still catch it from enterovirus 71 or another strain. This is why the disease can appear in the same community or family multiple times.