Hand foot & mouth

Offering treatment and immediate medical care for your little ones

You might have noticed small red dots on your child’s hands and feet, along with sores in the mouth. And from two to three days, your child is inactive and isn’t eating properly.

Worried about your child’s health and thinking about what step you should take next? Your little one might be suffering from hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD).

Rest assured, Family Urgent Care is ready to help your child get better!

From diagnosing HFMD to providing proper treatment and care, our healthcare professionals ensure your child’s recovery and well-being. You can either schedule your appointment or even visit directly, as we are open seven days a week.

What is Hand, Foot And Mouth Disease?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a contagious viral infection caused by coxsackievirus. It is most common in young children, especially during fall and summer. The usual incubation period, from initial infection to symptom appearance, which is 3 to 6 days.

What Causes HFMD In Young Children?

One of the most common causes of HFMD is the transmission of coxsackievirus 16 from infected individuals. These viruses belong to a group of viruses called nonpolio enteroviruses. Some other types of enteroviruses, such as coxsackievirus A6 and enterovirus 71, can also cause hand-foot-and-mouth disease.

The virus commonly spreads from person to person when they come in contact with an infected one by:

Sneezing, coughing, or nasal secretions or droplets that contain the virus.
Touching an infected person’s poop, such as changing diapers and then touching eyes, nose, mouth.
Touching the infected person or sharing utensils.
Handling objects or touching surfaces that have the virus on them.

What Are Some Common Symptoms Of HFMD?

If your child has HFMD, you might notice the following concerning symptoms:

Fever (101 F or 102 F for the first few days)
Painful blister-like lesions inside the mouth (gums, tongue, and inner lips)
Small, oval or white blisters on the palms and soles
Sore throat
Fatigue
Loss of appetite

Your child will be fussy, irritable and refuse to eat or drink because of the painful lesions in the mouth. You can contact healthcare providers at Family Urgent Care who will provide immediate services by prescribing appropriate medicines and even counsel about at-home management to improve healing and boost your child’s recovery.

How Can You Prevent Hand-Foot-And-Mouth Disease?

You can even prevent this contagious disease by taking some small precautionary measures at home. Here are some preventive actions you can take right now!

Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the toilet or changing a diaper.
Educate your children on proper hygiene.
Disinfect common areas accessible to kids, such as toys and door knobs.
Avoid close contact with your child with people who are sick

How Is HFMD Treated?

There is no specific vaccine or treatment, as symptoms usually clear up in 7 to 10 days. However, certain medicines are given to relieve symptoms and to alleviate discomfort.

Over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen
Topical anesthetics to relieve mouth sore pain
Adequate fluid intake is important.

When To See A Healthcare Provider For HFMD?

While symptoms typically resolve on their own, certain situations warrant immediate medical attention. You can visit Family Urgent Care as soon you come across the following concerns in your child:

Not drinking fluids normally or has loss of appetite
Fever lasting for more than 3 days
Your child has a weakened immune system
Your child is younger than 6 months
You notice any symptoms of Hand, Foot, and mouth diseases such as blisters in the mouth, palm, and soles.
If the symptoms are not improving within 3 to 10 days

In such cases, Family Urgent Care clinics provide urgent care services with experts offering immediate and definitive care for HFMD. We offer walk-in consultations and even online/telehealth/video appointments.