Hand, foot and mouth disease

What to do if you or your child has hand, foot and mouth disease

If you have hand, foot and mouth disease, the best thing to do is to stay at home until you're feeling better. There's no cure for it, so you have to let it run its course.

To help ease your or your child's symptoms:

drink plenty of fluids toavoid dehydration water or milk are ideal; it may help to givea baby smaller but more frequent bottle or breast milk feeds
eatsoft foods such as mashed potatoes, yoghurtand soups if eating and swallowing is uncomfortable avoid hot, acidic or spicy foods and drinks
take over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen , toease a sore throat and fever aspirin shouldn't be given to children under the age of 16;paracetamol is best if you're pregnant
try gargling with warm, salty water to relieve discomfort from mouth ulcers it's importantnot to swallow the mixture, so this isn't recommended for young children
alternatively, use mouth gels, rinses or sprays for mouth ulcers these are available from pharmacies, but aren't routinely recommended, and some aren't suitable for young children; ask your pharmacist for advice and make sure you read the instructions first

You should keep your child away from nursery or school until they're feeling better.Adults with the condition should stay away from work until they're feeling better.

See preventing hand, foot and mouth disease below for more information about stoppingthe infection spreading.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018

Articles for hand, foot and mouth disease

Introduction

Read about hand, foot and mouth disease. Find out what the symptoms are, how to treat it, and when you should get medical advice.

Symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease

The symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease usually develop between three and five days after being exposed to the infection. The first symptoms may include: a high temperature (fever),usuallyarou

What to do if you or your child has hand, foot and mouth disease

If you have hand, foot and mouth disease, the best thing to do is to stay at home until you're feeling better. There's no cure for it, so you have to let it run its course. To help ease your or your

When to get medical advice

You don't usually need medical attention if you think you or your child has hand, foot and mouth disease. The infection will usually pass in 7 to 10 days, and there isn't much your doctor can do. An

Preventing hand, foot and mouth disease

It's not always possible to avoid getting hand, foot and mouth disease, but following the advice below can help stop the infection spreading. Stay off work, school or nursery until you or your chil

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