Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease (HFMD)
Available at both our Palm Beach Gardens and Stuart locations
Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease Treatment & Care
Hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral illness that primarily affects infants and children under 5 years old, though it can occur in older children and adults. Our medical providers offer diagnosis and symptom management for HFMD, helping families understand this contagious condition and providing relief during recovery. Walk-ins welcome at both Palm Beach Gardens and Stuart locations, open daily 8am-8pm.
Signs of Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease
- Fever, often the first symptom appearing 3-6 days after infection
- Sore throat and reduced appetite or refusal to eat
- Painful sores or blisters in the mouth, tongue, gums, and inner cheeks
- Red rash on palms of hands, typically not itchy
- Red rash on soles of feet, may develop into blisters
- Rash may also appear on knees, elbows, buttocks, or genital area
- Irritability or fussiness in infants and toddlers
- Excessive drooling due to painful mouth sores
- Difficulty swallowing or drinking
- General malaise or feeling unwell
- Symptoms typically develop in stages over 1-2 days
- Mouth sores often appear before the rash on hands and feet
How We Diagnose & Manage HFMD
Our medical providers diagnose hand-foot-mouth disease through clinical examination of characteristic symptoms - the distinctive mouth sores combined with rash on hands and feet. According to CDC guidelines, HFMD is typically caused by coxsackievirus A16 or enterovirus 71. While there's no specific antiviral treatment, we provide comprehensive symptom management strategies and guidance to prevent dehydration and complications during recovery.
What to Expect During Your Visit
Diagnostic Capabilities
Recovery Timeline & Home Care
According to CDC guidelines, hand-foot-mouth disease typically resolves on its own within 7-10 days. Fever usually subsides within 3-4 days, though mouth sores may take longer to heal. Focus on keeping your child comfortable and hydrated. Offer cold foods like popsicles, ice cream, and smoothies to soothe mouth pain and maintain hydration. Avoid acidic or spicy foods that can irritate mouth sores. Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen (appropriate for age) to reduce fever and pain. Children are most contagious during the first week of illness but can shed the virus in stool for several weeks. HFMD is highly contagious and spreads through close contact, respiratory droplets, and contact with contaminated surfaces. Practice frequent handwashing, especially after diaper changes. Most children can return to daycare or school once fever is gone and mouth sores have healed enough to eat and drink normally, typically after 5-7 days. Seek additional care if your child shows signs of dehydration (dry mouth, no tears when crying, reduced urination), refuses all fluids for more than a few hours, has a stiff neck, severe headache, or if fever persists beyond 3 days. This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately. For urgent but non-emergency conditions, visit True Compassion Urgent Care at either our Palm Beach Gardens or Stuart location. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized medical advice.
Available at Both Locations
Frequently Asked Questions
HFMD is usually a mild illness that resolves on its own within 7-10 days. According to the CDC, serious complications are rare but can include viral meningitis or encephalitis, particularly with certain enterovirus strains. Most children recover completely without complications. Seek immediate care if your child develops severe headache, stiff neck, confusion, or shows signs of dehydration.
While both can cause blisters, HFMD typically affects the mouth, palms of hands, and soles of feet with red spots that may blister. Chickenpox causes itchy blisters that appear all over the body, starting on the chest, back, and face. HFMD is caused by enteroviruses (usually coxsackievirus), while chickenpox is caused by varicella-zoster virus. Our medical providers can distinguish between these conditions through clinical examination.
According to CDC guidelines, children can typically return to daycare or school once fever is gone without medication and mouth sores have healed enough that the child can eat and drink normally. This usually occurs after 5-7 days. However, the virus can still be shed in stool for several weeks, so emphasize good hand hygiene. Some facilities may have specific exclusion policies, so check with your daycare or school.
Yes, adults can contract HFMD, though it's less common and symptoms are often milder than in children. Adults with HFMD may have minimal symptoms or mistake the illness for a regular sore throat. Adults caring for infected children should practice careful hand hygiene to reduce transmission risk.
Prevention focuses on good hygiene practices: frequent handwashing with soap and water (especially after diaper changes and using the bathroom), avoiding close contact with infected individuals, disinfecting commonly touched surfaces, not sharing eating utensils or drinking cups, and teaching children not to put their hands or objects in their mouths. There is no vaccine for HFMD.
Offer cold, soft foods like popsicles, ice cream, yogurt, and smoothies which soothe mouth pain and help maintain hydration. Avoid acidic foods (citrus, tomatoes) and salty or spicy foods that can irritate sores. Use age-appropriate doses of acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and pain relief. Encourage frequent sips of water or electrolyte solutions. For older children, salt water rinses after meals can help clean mouth sores.
There is no specific antiviral treatment or cure for HFMD as it's caused by a virus that must run its course. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and preventing complications like dehydration. Our medical providers can prescribe pain relievers, recommend soothing rinses for mouth sores, and provide guidance on maintaining nutrition and hydration during recovery.
Visit True Compassion Urgent Care if your child has symptoms suggestive of HFMD for proper diagnosis and symptom management guidance. Seek immediate emergency care if your child shows signs of severe dehydration (no urination for 6-8 hours, no tears, sunken eyes), refuses all fluids, has severe headache with stiff neck, difficulty breathing, or appears extremely ill or unresponsive.
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The content on this page is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider with any questions about a medical condition.
In case of a medical emergency, call 911 immediately. Do not rely on this information for emergency medical treatment.
No physician-patient relationship is created by viewing this content. This information does not replace in-person evaluation and treatment by a licensed medical professional.
Ready to Get Care?
Walk-ins welcome at both locations. Open daily 8am-8pm.