August 27, 2017
It all kicked off with a fever. As any parent can attest, a fever is never a good sign. Once it starts, all you’re left with is the agonizing wait, snuggled up with your little one, enduring endless episodes of mind-numbing kids’ shows.
The dreaded moment came when I glanced at my 2-year-old’s palms and spotted the unmistakable red blisters. I quickly lifted his foot for a closer look—blisters were also present on his heels and the soles of his feet. Then, I managed to coax him into opening his mouth—no easy feat, requiring a lot of exaggerated “Aaaaaah!” sounds on my end, hoping he’d follow suit. Eventually, he complied, revealing the ulcers at the back of his throat.
Great.
I knew it was making the rounds; it was fall, and according to WebMD, hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) tends to peak in summer and fall. Like many childhood illnesses, there’s no cure—just rest, Popsicles, pain relievers like Tylenol or Advil, throat spray, more rest, and a strict quarantine to prevent spreading this wretched virus.
Let me clarify: this is not hoof-and-mouth disease, which affects cattle, sheep, and swine, as the CDC explains. That illness doesn’t usually prove fatal for those animals but can impair their ability to produce milk or meat. HFMD, on the other hand, is an enterovirus related to polio. If your child contracts it, it’s likely from close contact with an infected person, airborne droplets from coughs and sneezes, or contact with contaminated surfaces or feces.
While you’re most contagious for about a week after symptoms appear, your child can keep spreading the virus for several weeks—6 to 10 weeks depending on the strain. Awesome, right? This means every time you change a diaper, you risk exposure. And guidance varies widely; some doctors suggest a return to normal activities two days after the fever breaks, while others insist the blisters must be gone first. The best course is to follow your doctor’s advice and keep an eye on your little one.
Now, if you didn’t catch this virus as a child, well, you may find yourself in a tough spot. Like my partner, Liam, who had missed out on it in his youth and ended up with a fierce fever and painful blisters on his mouth, hands, and feet—even one under a toenail. He could hardly walk or speak, opting to moan instead. Meanwhile, our child bounced back within two days, full of energy and ready to conquer the world, while Liam had to take time off work for an illness typically associated with toddlers, enduring the teasing of his coworkers. He even lost some toenails—apparently a known complication, right alongside meningitis and encephalitis (both rare!).
Another family member, who had been caring for a child with HFMD, changed a diaper and, after a tidy three-day incubation period, found himself battling a high fever followed by those dreaded blisters. He was reduced to a diet of Popsicles and sheer misery. According to Dr. Ng Chung Wai from HealthXchange, symptoms in adults mirror those in children, often manifesting as red bumps and blisters on the palms and soles, with potential rashes appearing in other areas too.
Miraculously, I managed to sidestep this viral assault. My mother can’t recall if I had it as a child—she had two daughters close together, so her memory is understandably hazy. Perhaps I did have it, or simply became obsessive about disinfecting everything and insisting that Liam handle all diaper changes once he fell ill because, hey, he was already sick, right?
Hand-foot-mouth disease is surprisingly prevalent. Although precise statistics are limited, especially in regions outside of WHO’s Western Pacific jurisdiction where it thrives in warmer climates, the CDC still categorizes it as a “common childhood illness.” So, whether you’re ready or not, you’re likely to encounter it, particularly if your child is in daycare or school. Thankfully, most kids recover just fine—and so will you.
Short of dousing every surface in bleach, practicing good hand hygiene is key. Be aware of the symptoms, stay cautious after changing diapers of infected kids, and cut your husband some slack when he howls at the loss of a toenail.
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Summary
Hand-foot-mouth disease is a common virus that typically affects young children. It starts with a fever and can lead to painful blisters on the hands, feet, and mouth. There’s no specific treatment; instead, focus on rest and symptom relief. Contagiousness can last longer than symptoms, so quarantine is essential. Most children recover quickly, but adults can also catch it, often with more severe symptoms. Practicing good hygiene is crucial to prevent the spread.