Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Diagnosis of Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Diagnosing hand-foot-and-mouth disease involves a physical exam to determine if your child’s symptoms are caused by this illness or another viral infection. Healthcare professionals consider several factors:

• Your child’s age

• The specific symptoms your child is experiencing

• The appearance of rashes or sores

In some cases, a throat swab or stool sample may be collected and sent to a lab to identify the virus responsible for the illness.

Treatment of Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease

There is no specific cure for hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Most symptoms resolve on their own within 7 to 10 days.

Symptom Relief

To help ease discomfort, the following measures may be recommended:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen

• Avoid giving aspirin to children due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome

Mouth and Throat Care

• Topical oral anesthetics may help relieve pain from mouth sores

• Lozenges are not recommended for children under 4 years old because of choking risk

• Throat sprays containing benzocaine should not be used in children under 2 years old due to the risk of methemoglobinemia

Supportive care, proper hydration, and rest are key to helping your child recover comfortably from hand-foot-and-mouth disease.