Which virus causes hand, foot and mouth disease?

Enterovirus is a broad virus group that can live in the nose, throat and bowel. Different members can cause a similar pattern of fever, mouth ulcers and a rash on the hands or feet. Coxsackievirus A16 is a familiar cause, while other enteroviruses can produce the same illness. The name is not related to foot-and-mouth disease in livestock, which is a different infection.

Most care focuses on fluids, rest, gentle foods and suitable relief for pain or fever rather than an antiviral medicine. Good hand hygiene matters because the virus can spread in saliva, mucus, blister fluid and stool. Avoid sharing cups or cutlery and clean commonly touched items. A virus name from a test is not a reason to give antibiotics, because antibiotics act against bacteria.

Get medical advice when mouth pain limits drinking, urine becomes noticeably less frequent, fever continues or the person is unusually tired. Seek urgent help for confusion, breathing difficulty, a seizure, a stiff neck or severe dehydration. Read more about [fever](/symptoms/fever/) as part of the symptom picture. A [Child Health Consultation](/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/child-health-consultation/) can clarify whether examination or testing is needed.

Ask whether identifying the specific enterovirus would alter care, how to manage mouth pain, how to reduce household spread, and which warning signs should prompt review.