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How do I know if my kid has hand foot and mouth disease and how is it treated?

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common, usually mild viral illness causing fever, mouth sores, and a rash on the hands, feet (and often buttocks). It's diagnosed by how it looks and usually just needs comfort care at home while it runs its course over about a week.

There's no specific antiviral treatment; care focuses on pain and fever relief and keeping your child hydrated.

Strength of evidence

Good

Based on consistent guidance from Canadian (HealthLink BC), US (CDC, AAP) and Australian pediatric health authorities, supported by descriptive clinical studies. No randomized trials are needed for diagnosis, but treatment is symptomatic based on established clinical experience rather than trial data.

What the evidence says

HFMD usually starts with a mild fever, followed by painful sores in the mouth (often on the tongue and inside the cheeks) and a rash of small blisters on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Some kids also get spots on their buttocks or knees. It's caused by common viruses (usually coxsackievirus or enterovirus) and spreads easily among young children, especially in daycare or preschool settings.

Diagnosis is made just by looking at the symptoms and pattern of rash - no special test is usually needed. Doctors distinguish it from other causes of mouth sores based on the classic combination of fever plus sores in these specific locations. There's no medicine that treats the virus itself.

Treatment is all about comfort: acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain and fever (never give aspirin to a child), plenty of fluids since painful mouth sores can make kids reluctant to drink, and cold, soft foods that are easier to swallow. Most children feel better within 7 to 10 days with no lasting problems. Call your doctor if your child can't keep fluids down, has a fever lasting more than 3 days, seems increasingly lethargic, or develops a stiff neck or severe headache, as these could signal a rare complication like dehydration or, very rarely, viral meningitis.

Keep your child home from daycare or school until any blisters have dried, since HFMD is quite contagious, especially in the first week.

Sources

✓Reviewed by CH, MD, FRCPC

Reviewed by a specialist physician certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, who has read this answer against the sources listed above and confirmed it reflects them. That is not medical advice about your child. How we review

Answer checked August 2, 2026

Educational information only. Not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and no doctor-patient relationship is created by using this. Founded Parent has not examined your child and does not know their history, so this may not apply to you. In an emergency, call your local emergency number. What Founded Parent cannot do

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