Hand foot mouth disease in adults

Young children have the highest risk of getting hand, foot, and mouth disease. Skip directly to search Skip directly to A to Z list Skip directly to page options Skip directly to site content. It is common in infants and children younger than 5 years old, because they do not yet have immunity protection to the viruses that cause HFMD. If mouth ulcers become too painful, drinking cold water or sucking on ice cubes can help to relieve discomfort. Because adults will often not show any signs of the disease, good hygiene is the key to staying healthy.

HFMD is caused by a contagious virus that can be passed from one person to another through nose and throat secretions including saliva or mucus, blister fluid, or feces.

What to expect with hand, foot, and mouth disease

When someone gets HFMD, they develop immunity protection to the specific virus that caused their infection. This will allow them to confirm the diagnosis. Practicing good hygiene is the best defense against hand, foot, and mouth disease. For more information, see the U. Read about hearing loss, high fevers, breathing trouble, abdominal pain, and other warning signs of poor children's health that may require a doctor's…. They might look for sores or blisters on the feet, hands, and genitals.