Hand, foot and mouth disease

It’s most common in young children – particularly those under 10 – but can affect older children and adults as well.

Hand, foot and mouth disease can be unpleasant, but it will usually clear up by itself within 7 to 10 days. You can normally look after yourself or your child at home.

The infection is not related to foot and mouth disease, which affects cattle, sheep and pigs.


Hand, foot and mouth disease can be unpleasant, but it will usually clear up by itself within 7 to 10 days. You can normally look after yourself or your child at home.

The infection is not related to foot and mouth disease, which affects cattle, sheep and pigs.


The infection is not related to foot and mouth disease, which affects cattle, sheep and pigs.

Symptoms

The symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease usually develop between 3 and 5 days after being exposed to the infection.

The first symptoms may include:

a high temperature (fever), usually around 38°C to 39°C (100.4-102.2°F) a general sense of feeling unwell loss of appetite coughing abdominal (tummy) pain a sore throat and mouth