Hand, foot, and mouth disease

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a human disease which is caused by a strain of Coxsackie A virus. Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• General discomfort (aches and pains)
• Earache
• Sore throat
• Painful mouth sores
• Body rash
• Sores with blisters on hand
• Mouth lesions
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea

HFMD is very common, especially in babies and young children. It is easily spread from person to person, so it often happens in a nursery or kindergarten. Only a small number of people get sick enough to go to a hospital. There is also no specific treatment for HFMD. It goes away on its own after one or two weeks.