Hand Foot Mouth Disease

Overview

Hand-foot-mouth disease is a common viral illness that affects infants and children, often appearing as a rash of small, blister-like bumps in the hands, feet and mouth.

• Hand-foot-mouth disease is caused by the coxsackie virus.
• It's very common in children under the age of 10.
• Hand-foot-mouth disease is often confused with foot-and-mouth disease, which affects cattle, sheep and pigs. However, the two diseases are not related.
• The disease is seen most often in the summer and fall.
• Good hand washing helps prevent the spread of the disease.
• Lots of fluids and acetaminophen helps reduce severity of the symptoms.

How Boston Children's Hospital approaches hand-foot-mouth disease

The Children's Hospital Informatics Program created HealthMap, an online resource and smart phone application that helps track the spread of contagious diseases, including Hand-Foot-Mouth disease, in real time.