Summary:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFM) is a common viral infection that causes red blister-like sores in the mouth and throat, and on the hands and feet. The disease is very contagious and spreads easily to others. Anyone can get the disease, but children are most likely to catch it. The best way to reduce the chance of being infected is to constantly wash one’s hands with soap and water. Other ways to prevent the disease include disinfecting surfaces and avoiding direct contact with people who have been exposed to the disease.
Fact table:
| Formal binomial name of microbe: | Enterovirus – Coxsackievirus A16 |
| Gram stain (gram positive, gram negative or neither): | Neither |
| Is the microbe mobile or immobile? | Immobile |
| Primary habitat? (Where is the organism normally found or prefer to live?) | Live in the human digestive tract |
| Can the organism infect humans? | Yes |
| Can the organism infect other species? If so, which ones. | No |
| Documented cases of antimicrobial resistance? | Yes |
| Number of infections per year in the US | 200,000 cases |
| Number of infections per year in the world | N/A |
Description:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common infectious disease that usually affects infants and children younger than 5 years old and children also up to 10 years old. However, it can occur in older children and adults. The infection is characterized by sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. The signs and symptoms include: fever; sore throat; feeling of being unwell; painful, red, blister-like lesions on the tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks; a red rash, without itching but sometimes with blistering, on the palms, soles, and buttocks; irritability in infants and toddlers, and loss of appetite. The disease is not pleasant, but it usually isn’t serious due to the short recovery time.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is considered a minor illness, but an individual should contact their doctor if signs and symptoms worsen or if mouth sores become very painful. The ways to help ease symptoms include over-the-counter pain relivers like ibuprofen (Advil), acetaminophen (Tylenol), or even numbing mouth sprays. Cold treats like smoothies might help with a sore throat and anti-itch cream can help against rashes. The disease should go away on its own after 7 to 10 days. It is essential to understand that an individual is most contagious within the first 7 days, but the virus can stay in the body for days or even weeks after symptoms disappear.
Hand, foot, and mouth is primarily spread to another person through close personal contact, the air through sneezing or coughing, contact with contaminated surfaces, and contact with feces. There is no treatment or vaccines for the illness. Although, there are certain precautions that can help reduce the risk of infection with hand, foot, and mouth disease. The methods consist of washing one’s hands carefully, disinfecting areas, teaching good hygiene, and isolating contagious people. Other preventative measures include: covering one’s mouth when coughing or sneezing, staying at home if ill, and eating a nutritious and balanced diet.
News articles:
Healthline summarizes that hand, foot, and mouth disease is a highly contagious infection that is caused by viruses from the Enterovirus genus, most commonly the coxsackievirus. The infection can be transmitted through contact with an infected person’s saliva, stool, or respiratory secretions. In other words, the virus can also spread through direct contact with unwashed hands or contaminated surfaces with feces.
Live Science highlights that a person with hand, foot, and mouth disease is most contagious during the first week of the illness. In fact, the virus can remain in the body (especially the stool) for weeks after symptoms have gone away. Some people may even spread the virus without ever showing and signs or symptoms of the disease.
Medical News Today mentions a few different facts about hand, foot, and mouth disease. For example, the article states that the disease normally clears up without treatment within 7 to 14 days. In addition, outbreaks are more common in Western Pacific countries such as Japan and Singapore compared to the United States.
References:
“Facts About Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease”; webmd.com; https://www.webmd.com/children/guide/hand-foot-mouth-disease#1
“Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)”; cdc.gov; https://www.cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/index.html
“Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease” healthline.com; https://www.healthline.com/health/hand-foot-mouth-disease
“Hand-foot-and-mouth disease”; mayoclinic.org; https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hand-foot-and-mouth-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353035
“Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease: Causes, Sypmtoms and Treatment”; livescience.com; https://www.livescience.com/64252-hand-foot-and-mouth-disease.html
“What to expect with hand, foot, and mouth disease” medicalnewstoday.com; https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/311920.php