Kids with hand, foot, and mouth disease have a virus that causes painful blisters and fever. The blisters may be in the mouth, on the hands and feet, and sometimes on other areas of the skin.

Blisters in the mouth make it hard for kids to eat and drink, so it's important to give medicine for pain and plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration (not enough water in the body). Most children recover fully within 7–10 days.

• For pain and fever, you can give acetaminophen (Tylenol® or a store brand) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand). Follow the directions on the label for how much to give and how often. Don't give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months old. 
• Don't give aspirin to your child. It can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome.
• Offer your child plenty of liquids. Cold liquids such as ice water, smoothies, cold milk, and milkshakes are often soothing for the blisters, but if your child prefers warm broth, that's OK too. 
• You can continue to offer your child their usual diet. If they are having trouble eating, try giving them cold foods, such as ice pops or ice cream.
• Help your child avoid acidic foods and drinks like soda, tomatoes, orange juice, and lemonade, which can make the blisters hurt.
• If your child knows how to rinse their mouth without swallowing, have them gargle with a little saltwater 4–6 times a day. To make the saltwater, mix ¼ teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water. 
• Wash blisters on the skin once a day with soap and warm water. Pat dry and leave them uncovered. Use a fresh towel or paper towel each time.
• Let your child rest as much as needed.
• Ask your healthcare provider when your child can return to school or childcare. Usually, it's OK once they've had no fever for 24 hours, they don’t have a lot of drooling from the blisters in the mouth, they're eating and drinking, and they have most of their energy back.

Your child:

• Won't eat anything or is drinking very little
• Vomits more than a few times in a day
• Has blisters that last longer than a week
• Has a new or worsening fever, or has a fever for more than three days

Your child:

• Isn't drinking at all or has signs of dehydration, such as a dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, less pee or darker pee than usual, little or no tears when crying, or unusual sleepiness
• Is very fussy and can't be comforted
• Seems to be getting sicker, is confused, or gets new symptoms, such as a bad headache, or a stiff neck

You know your child best. If they have symptoms that worry you or seem very sick, call your healthcare provider or take your child to the ER.

What other symptoms can kids with hand, foot, and mouth disease have? Along with blisters in the mouth and on the skin, they may also have:

• Fever, muscle aches, or other flu-like symptoms
• Fussiness
• Drooling
• Belly pain, vomiting, or diarrhea

How does hand, foot, and mouth disease spread? The virus that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease (coxsackievirus) can easily spread from one person to another, through mucus, saliva (spit), fluid from the blisters, or poop. It is most likely to spread during the first week of the illness but can continue to spread for a few weeks after the blisters go away (usually through poop).

How can someone avoid spreading the infection? To help reduce the spread of germs, family members and childcare providers should:

• Wash hands well and often with soap and water and scrub for at least 20 seconds. This is especially important after coughing or sneezing, after having a bowel movement, or changing a diaper. If soap and water are not available, they can use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Sneeze into a tissue, then throw the tissue away and wash their hands well. If a tissue is not available, they should sneeze into their upper sleeve or inner elbow, not their hands.
• Avoid sharing cups or eating utensils.
• Clean tabletops, doorknobs, toys, and other hard surfaces with a cleaner that kills viruses.

Will antibiotics help? No, antibiotics won't help. Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by a virus, and antibiotics don't work against viruses. Antibiotics work against bacteria (a different type of germ).

Can my child get it again? Yes. It's possible for kids to get hand, foot, and mouth disease more than once. It's most common in kids under 5 years, but it can happen in older kids and adults too.