Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Home Treatment

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease goes away on its own without any treatment in about 7 to 10 days. You can help your child feel better during the course of the illness with some basic home treatment measures.

• Have your child drink plenty of cool fluids. This can include Popsicles and ice cream, which can offer some variety.
• Treat fever and pain with acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20 unless directed to do so by your doctor because of the risk of Reye's syndrome.
• Give your child any medication prescribed by a doctor. This may include pills to take by mouth or lotions, creams, or ointment to put on the blisters.
• Do not give your child acidic or spicy foods and drinks, such as salsa or orange juice, which may make mouth sores more painful.

Your child will be contagious during the course of the illness, which lasts 7 to 10 days. However, the virus remains in the feces (stools) and can spread to others for up to 2 months after the blisters and sores have healed. Be especially careful to use good hygiene for several months after your child is better.

To help prevent the disease from spreading:

• Tell child care providers and school staff about your child's infection. Ask about their policies regarding when your child with hand-foot-and-mouth disease can return to daycare or school.
• Have all family members be aware of using good hygiene, such as washing their hands frequently. It is especially important to wash your hands after changing the diapers of a young child who is infected. The virus can be in the stools of a child for up to 2 months after the rash has healed.
• Do not let your child share toys or give kisses while he or she is infected.
• Wear latex or rubber gloves when you apply any prescribed ointment to your child's blisters.

Talk to your doctor about whether to report the infection to a local health agency. Sometimes your doctor will report it. Other times, it is up to you. The health agency helps monitor your community for disease outbreaks.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: April 26, 2007
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
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