Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common viral illness that usually affects infants and children under 5.  However, it can also occur in older children and adults (CDC,2017).  

Signs and Symptoms:

• Fever
• Sore Throat
• Rash (may develop after the fever starts)
• General malaise

Transmission of Virus:

• Close contact, such as hugging a person
• Contact with objects and surfaces that the virus is on
• The air when an infected person coughs or sneezes

*Generally a person is most contagious during the first week of illness.  People can sometimes be contagious for days or weeks after symptoms go away.

Treatment and Prevention:

• Washing your hands often
• Cleaning and disinfecting toys and surfaces that are frequently touched
• There is no standard treatment for hand, foot, and mouth disease.  Keep your child well hydrated and take OTC fever and pain medicine to help relieve symptoms
  

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