 | Incubation period 3-7 days. This means that your child
was exposed to someone with the virus between 3 and 7
days before the disease appeared. They may have had
similar symptoms of spots or small blisters around their
mouth, hands, bottom and feet. |
| Children are more frequently affected than adults. |
| Fever and slight malaise occur. |
| A sore mouth with bright red flat spots, small blisters
or shallow painful ulcers present in all parts of the
mouth but seldom on tonsils and not on the back of the
throat is characteristic. |
| The rash consists of red flat spots, small blisters (a
millimeter or two in size), larger thin-skinned blisters
or grey ulcers within a red base. It is concentrated on
the hands mainly on sides of fingers; the rash on the
feet is found particularly on the toes and outer aspect
of the feet, but is seldom present in children under the
age of 3: a flat or bumpy rash may be present on the
buttocks of young children. |
Treatment
This illness does not require treatment other than that which
helps with symptoms such as fever. If your child is feverish then
paracetamol will help. Sucking ice-cubes, ice cream or cold
drinks may sooth the mouth ulcers. The body produces antibodies
that kill the virus after a few days. This provides prolonged
immunity so it is highly unlikely that your child will catch it
again.
How to tell it apart from chicken pox
Chicken pox has a longer incubation period. Your child will
have been in contact with another with chicken pox 2-3 weeks
previously. Chicken pox blisters are typically much more
widespread but are concentrated over the chest, tummy, and face,
rather than on the hands and feet. Click
here for more information about chicken pox.
Is Hand, foot and mouth disease harmful in pregnancy?
Not as far as we know so there are no special precautions to
be taken. However, pregnant mothers will not thank you if they
pick up the infection because it will worry them, so, if
possible, keep away until the spots have cleared.
