How can I recognise hand, foot and mouth disease?

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) can cause painful blisters in the mouth, on the palms of the hands and on the soles of the feet. Not everyone who has hand, foot and mouth disease develops symptoms. If people do develop symptoms, the disease often starts with:

• fever
• nausea
• diarrhoea
• abdominal pain
• vomiting
• sore throat

Even without these symptoms, or soon after these symptoms appear, a person with HFMD can suffer from:

• Blisters in and around the mouth. These blisters are often painful. They make it difficult to eat and drink.
• Red spots on the hands and feet. The spots turn into blisters. There could be only a few blisters, but also as many as 100.
• Sometimes a skin rash on the buttocks.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is not the same thing as foot-and-mouth disease, which only occurs in animals and is caused by a different virus.

How does hand, foot and mouth disease spread?

Hand, foot and mouth disease is very contagious. People can infect others 3 to 7 days before they have symptoms. After recovery, a person can still transmit the virus to others for a very long time, for several weeks or months.

The virus is transmitted through:

• fluid from the blisters 
• saliva or snot, including droplets released by coughing and sneezing
• stool material (poo)

When a person uses the toilet, the virus can get on the toilet seat, flush knob, water tap and other surfaces. Hand contact with these surfaces can transfer the virus to the mouth. Hand contact with saliva and snot containing the virus can also transfer the virus to toys, utensils, dishes and food.

The time between exposure and illness is usually 3 to 6 days.

How can I prevent hand, foot and mouth disease?

Hand hygiene and coughing hygiene can help prevent hand, foot and mouth disease. Overall good hygiene also helps prevent the disease from spreading.

Is there any treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease?

Hand, foot and mouth disease goes away on its own. The blisters usually disappear after a week.  Go to Thuisarts.nl (website only in Dutch) to see when to call your GP about hand, foot and mouth disease.

How common is hand, foot and mouth disease in the Netherlands?

In the Netherlands, hand, foot and mouth disease occurs mainly in summer and autumn. There are occasionally minor outbreaks in children attending daycare or school. In Western Europe, the disease is usually mild. Larger outbreaks occur in Asia, where people sometimes become more seriously ill.

Can a person with hand, foot and mouth disease go to childcare, school or work?

A child who feels fine can go to childcare or school. Hand, foot and mouth disease is already contagious before a person starts showing symptoms. Staying home does not help keep others from becoming ill.

If your child has hand, foot and mouth disease, tell the childcare provider or teacher. They can consult with the Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs) to notify other parents. If they know, parents can be alert to possible symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease in their children. Precautionary measures at the childcare centre or school may sometimes be needed.

An adult with hand, foot and mouth disease who feels fine can go to work as usual.