Identifying and treating hand, foot and mouth disease

As the school seasons begin and students return, it is inevitable that more diseases will begin to circulate through the student populations. Hand, foot and mouth disease is no exception and is something your child may be exposed to. If you are a parent, teacher, day care worker, or grandparent, this is what you should know.

Hand, foot and mouth (HFM) disease is a common viral illness that usually affects children of all age groups, including infants, teens and adults. HFM usually starts with a fever, reduced appetite, sore throat and a feeling of being unwell. After the onset of fever, usually 1-2 days later, painful sores can develop in the back of the mouth and look like small red spots that blister and can become ulcers that resemble “canker sores.” A skin rash can also appear on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet that resemble red spots or blisters. These can also appear on the knees, elbows, buttocks or genital area.

Because HFM can cause a sore throat, children are at risk of becoming dehydrated from the pain of swallowing.

HFM can be very mild or very severe and not everyone infected will have these signs or symptoms. Some people, mostly adults, may not show any symptoms but they can still be carriers of the virus and pass it on to others.

HFM can rarely become very severe and can cause viral meningitis and encephalitis.

HFM virus is transmitted by an infected person’s nose and throat secretions, like saliva, sputum or mucus. The fluid filled blisters commonly found in persons with the disease are also carrying the virus.

Persons infected can pass along the virus by close personal contact, by coughing or sneezing, contact with feces, and contact with objects and surfaces.

A person with HFM is most contagious during the first week of illness and sometimes for days or weeks after symptoms go away.

There is no vaccine to protect against the HFM virus but you can lower your risk of being infected by doing the following: wash your hands often; clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces like toys, door handles and shopping carts; avoid close contact like kissing, hugging or sharing eating objects; avoid people with active infection.

No specific treatment is available for HFM but you can help to relieve symptoms by taking over the counter pain and fever medicine (caution: Aspirin should not be given to children) and use mouth washes and sprays to numb mouth pain.

It is important for people infected with HFM to drink plenty of fluids and to stay home when sick. Children with HFM should stay home from school and daycare until they are no longer contagious.

If you are concerned about you or your child’s symptoms or they are not improving from the disease, you should contact your health care provider.

For more information call 406-283-2447

Riley Black is the Lincoln County Public Health Nurse.