Hand, foot and mouth disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease caused by several different viruses and found worldwide. It is not related to foot and mouth disease, which is found in cattle, pigs and sheep. It is spread person to person through direct contact with infected body fluid (e.g. coughs, sneezes, saliva, fluid from blisters/mouth ulcers and faeces) and indirect contact with contaminated surfaces.
HFMD usually affects children, but adolescents and adults can also catch it. Symptoms include fever, mouth ulcers and a spotty rash with blisters on the hands and feet. It is usually a mild, self-limiting infection, but a more serious illness, causing meningitis, encephalitis and paralysis, can occasionally occur. If mouth ulcers are very painful, swallowing may be difficult and dehydration may occur.
There is no specific treatment for HFMD. Rest, fluids and pain relief help relieve symptoms. Medical attention is needed for dehydration in young children and other vulnerable travellers. Urgent medical attention should also be sought for other symptoms such as confusion or seizures. As HFMD is caused by several different viruses, antibiotics do not help and it is possible to catch it more than once. Most people develop immunity as they get older.
Prevention
There is no vaccine currently available in the UK that protects against the viruses that cause HFMD. Vaccines are available in other regions of the world. They prevent some but not all of the viruses that are thought to cause HFMD.
Travellers can lower their risk of infection by:
- Avoiding close contact, such as kissing, hugging, sharing cutlery, plates and cups/glasses, with anyone infected with HFMD or who has symptoms.
- Careful hand washing, especially after using the toilet and changing nappies.
- Cleaning and disinfecting any surfaces and items (including toys) touched by an infected person.
Resources
Explore more
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver transmitted by contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person
Updated: 12 July 2024Yellow fever
Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes causing a spectrum of disease from mild to severe symptoms
Updated: 12 July 2024Cholera
Cholera is an infection that usually causes profuse watery diarrhoea; the majority of travellers are at low risk
Updated: 11 July 2024Rabies
Rabies is transmitted to humans usually by a bite or scratch from an infected animal (usually a dog) and almost always fatal once symptoms appear
Updated: 11 July 2024Japanese encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a viral infection of the brain transmitted to humans by mosquitoes in parts of Asia and the Pacific Rim
Updated: 11 July 2024Featured Topics
Lassa fever
Lassa fever is an infectious disease caused by Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family
Updated: 09 July 2024Malaria
Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease, transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito occurring in many tropical regions of the world
Updated: 19 January 2024Measles
Measles is a highly infectious viral illness with the potential for serious and life threatening complications
Updated: 18 June 2024Mpox (Monkeypox)
Mpox (monkeypox) is an infectious disease caused by the mpox virus
Updated: 09 July 2024Pertussis
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough is typically spread by the respiratory route when, for example, an infected person coughs or sneezes
Updated: 08 March 2024Avian influenza (bird flu)
An infection in birds caused by several strains of influenza A virus and some of these strains have spread from wild birds to domestic poultry
Updated: 09 July 2024