How long does hand, foot and mouth disease last?

Early symptoms may include a sore throat, reduced appetite, tiredness, or fever. Small sores in the mouth can make drinking uncomfortable. A rash or tiny blisters may appear on the hands, feet, around the mouth, or elsewhere. The illness is caused by a virus, so antibiotics do not shorten its course. Peeling skin or changes around fingernails may appear later and are usually separate from ongoing infection.

Offer frequent sips of cool fluids and soft foods. Avoid acidic drinks, spicy foods, and rough textures if mouth sores sting. Rest, handwashing, and not sharing cups, utensils, towels, or pacifiers can reduce spread. Keep blisters clean and avoid picking them. A clinician or pharmacist can advise which fever or pain medicine is suitable for the child’s age and health.

Arrange medical advice if the child is drinking very little, passing much less urine, becoming unusually sleepy, or has a dry mouth and no tears. Seek urgent help for breathing difficulty, marked confusion, a seizure, severe headache with a stiff neck, or a child who is difficult to wake. Contact a clinician if symptoms are worsening, do not begin improving, or you are unsure whether the rash fits this illness.

Ask whether the child’s hydration looks adequate, which pain-relief option fits their age, and when they can return to nursery or school. Mention the first day of symptoms, fluid intake, urine output, fever pattern, and any new rash or mouth changes.