Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease: What Every Parent Needs to Know
- 4 minute read.
- Last Updated: 1/29/2026
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)—it’s contagious. It’s uncomfortable. But it gets better.
“Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease can feel so hard as a parent,” shares Courtney Halista, MD, a family medicine physician at Covenant Health. “Thankfully, this is a self-resolving condition. It will get better, and your child will get through it.”
What Is HFMD?
HFMD is a common viral illness that spreads quickly, especially among young children. It’s known for causing fever and painful mouth sores, along with a rash on the hands and feet. It mostly affects children under five, but older kids and adults can catch it too.
Early Signs to Watch For
HFMD symptoms usually appear 3-5 days after exposure. Early signs include:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Painful mouth sores that blister
- Small red spots, rashes or blisters on the hands and feet
Children may drool more and refuse food and drinks due to mouth pain.
How It Spreads
This illness is highly contagious. It often spreads rapidly through daycare centers and families once one child gets sick. HFMD spreads through:
- Sneezing, coughing or talking closely
- Saliva and drool
- Stool (even up to six weeks after symptoms are gone)
- Direct contact with contaminated surfaces or toys
People are most contagious during the first week of illness, but they can still spread the virus for days or weeks after symptoms go away.
How to Prevent HFMD
You can’t always avoid HFMD, but you can lower the risk. When a child has HFMD, parents can help prevent the spread by following these steps:
- Wash hands often, especially after diaper changes, toilet use, coughing, or sneezing
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Disinfect toys, shared surfaces, and doorknobs regularly
- Avoid close contact with an infected person
- Keep your child home from daycare or school if they have a fever of 100.4°F or higher
Because there is no vaccine for HFMD in the United States, prevention relies on good hygiene and awareness. There are multiple strains of HFMD, and children and adults can become infected more than once.
“Prevention isn’t always possible with HFMD,” Dr. Halista explains. “When it pops up in your family, the best thing to do is comfort your child and take steps to control the spread.”
How to Treat HFMD
There is currently no cure or treatment for HFMD. Covenant Health recommends focusing on managing symptoms and supportive care:
- Keep kids hydrated
- Use fever-reducing pain medicine
- Make sure they’re comfortable
- Encourage rest
“Popsicles are your best friend,” Dr. Halista advises. “They help soothe mouth pain and encourage hydration. You can also add in Pedialyte if your child refuses their normal milk or formula.”
Once the fever is gone and the sores start to dry or scab, kids can return to daycare, even if they still have dry spots. They’re less contagious at that point.
When to Call the Doctor
Most children recover on their own within 7-10 days. However, if a child stops eating or drinking, medical intervention for dehydration may be necessary. Monitor your child’s water intake and watch for other signs of dehydration like extreme fatigue or less frequent urination.
Covenant Health: Your Partner in Care
At Covenant Health, we’re here to guide families through common illnesses like HFMD with compassion and clarity. Our family medicine clinics offer reassurance, expert advice, and care you can count on.
Dr. Halista is now accepting new patients, from infants to the elderly, at our new Belltown location in Powell. Schedule an appointment today and get established for care with a provider who listens, supports, and helps your family stay healthy.
