Hand, foot, and mouth disease in kids: Symptoms, treatment, and when they’re no longer contagious

5 things your pediatrician wants you to know about coxsackie.
Table of Contents
- Here’s are five things your pediatrician wants you to know about hand, foot and mouth disease:
- How many times can you get hand, foot, and mouth disease?
- Can you have hand, foot, and mouth without a fever?
- What to put on hand, foot, and mouth blisters
- When are you no longer contagious with hand, foot, and mouth?
- Why cases are spiking this season
- How long does hand, foot, and mouth disease live on surfaces?
- FAQs
- 1. Why are so many kids getting hand, foot, and mouth right now?
- 2. Does this surge mean hand, foot, and mouth is more dangerous this year?
- 3. How can I protect my child when HFMD is going around everywhere?
- 4. Should I keep my child home if there’s an outbreak at daycare?
- 5. Can kids get HFMD more than once in the same season?
Over the past few weeks, hand, foot, and mouth disease has been spiking across the U.S.—with weekly reported cases more than tripling this fall, according to recent surveillance data. Parents across social media are sounding the alarm, and pediatricians are confirming a clear seasonal surge in Coxsackievirus infections. If it feels like “every kid has it right now,” you’re not imagining it.
I’m hoping after reading this article, that parents will realize that while this illness can certainly make your little one feel very uncomfortable, it is rarely life threatening or dangerous. Typically, with some time, love and good pain control, your little one will seem back to himself in a few days.
Related: 9 facts parents need to know about parechovirus in newborns
Here’s are five things your pediatrician wants you to know about hand, foot and mouth disease:
- It’s a virus. Hand, foot and mouth disease is an infection that is caused by a virus known as the coxsackie virus. I like to tell parents, “it’s a virus with a name.” It is no different than your child having a cold, it is just a different set of symptoms.
And just because a virus has a name does not mean it will make a child sicker or is more dangerous than other viruses. Fun fact: it is named after a town in upstate New York where the virus was discovered.
- Symptoms can vary. Typical symptoms include: fever, sores on the back of the throat, fussiness, and a rash on the hands, feet and often buttocks. The rash typically looks like small red raised spots or bump and can look like blisters.
The sores in the mouth can be very painful and may cause your little one to have increased drooling or decreased food intake. The rash is not usually painful but can sometimes cause a little itching. It is possible for a child to have hand, foot and mouth without having a fever. Not everyone who contracts this virus will have the exact same symptoms.
- It’s very contagious. The coxsackie virus is very contagious. It is spread by contact with an infected person’s saliva, mucous, or traces of bowel movements. Children are most contagious while they have fevers and sores in the mouth.
Good hand washing, especially after changing diapers, is super important. It is also important to clean toys, table tops and other things your little one is touching. Unfortunately, this virus has multiple strains, so even if your child already had this virus, he or she can get it again, even in the same season.
- The treatment is NOT antibiotics. Since the infection itself is a virus, the treatment goals are keeping your little one comfortable and hydrated. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be very helpful with pain control.
Dosing is weight based and can be found on the Premier Pediatrics website. Never give aspirin to children. Encourage your little one to drink, and try to give him or her cool liquids or foods. The cool temperature helps relieve throat pain plus it gives them liquids. If you have any concerns about your child (such as he or she seems unusually irritable or lethargic, has headache or neck stiffness, is refusing to drink, is running fevers for more than three days), you should call your pediatrician right away.
- Is HFMD contagious to adults? Yes, adults can get it! While, coxsackie virus is more common in children, adults can contract this illness as well.
Related: 14 key things parents should know about RSV in 2025: Symptoms, treatment & prevention
How many times can you get hand, foot, and mouth disease?
Because there are multiple strains of the coxsackie virus, it is possible to get hand, foot, and mouth disease more than once. Some children may even contract it more than once in the same year if exposed to a different strain. While the body builds immunity to the strain it fights off, that immunity doesn’t protect against the others.
Can you have hand, foot, and mouth without a fever?
Yes, it is possible to have hand, foot, and mouth disease without a fever. Some children may only show signs like mouth sores, rash, or fussiness. This can make diagnosis tricky, which is why pediatricians look at the overall symptom pattern rather than relying on fever alone.
What to put on hand, foot, and mouth blisters
The blisters on hands, feet, and buttocks usually heal on their own without specific creams or ointments. To relieve discomfort, pediatricians recommend cool compresses or lukewarm baths with baking soda or oatmeal. Avoid topical creams unless directed by a doctor, as broken skin can be sensitive and prone to irritation.
Related: Mom gets HFM from a shopping cart, and a doctor reacts and drops some gross facts about germs
When are you no longer contagious with hand, foot, and mouth?
Children are most contagious during the first week of illness, especially while they have fevers and open blisters in the mouth. However, the virus can still be shed in stool for weeks after symptoms go away. In general, a child can return to school or daycare once they are fever-free for 24 hours and feeling well enough to participate in daily activities.
Why cases are spiking this season
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is always more common in late summer and fall—but this year, pediatricians are seeing a sharper increase than usual. Weekly cases of Coxsackievirus have more than tripled, according to recent surveillance reports, which explains why so many daycares and classrooms are experiencing outbreaks at the same time.
Several factors are driving the spike:
- Seasonal circulation: HFMD naturally peaks during this time of year.
- Multiple strains at once: Because more than one strain is circulating, kids can get sick more than once in a season.
- Immunity gaps: Younger children—especially toddlers—haven’t been exposed as much in recent years, making them more susceptible.
- Close-contact spread: Cooler weather means more indoor time, which increases transmission in schools, playgroups, and daycare rooms.
While the numbers are higher, the virus itself hasn’t become more severe. The spike simply means more children are getting exposed at the same time, which makes the illness feel like it’s “everywhere” right now.
How long does hand, foot, and mouth disease live on surfaces?
The virus that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease can live on surfaces such as toys, doorknobs, and countertops for several days. That’s why disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and practicing good handwashing are key steps in preventing its spread.
Related: Is it norovirus or Shigella? How to tell the difference
Lately, it does seem like everyone has coxsackie virus. But try not to worry too much: the virus is rarely dangerous and typically resolves on its own with time. So, while it’s a major bummer if your little one and/or you get it, you are in good company and can feel better knowing that, hopefully, your little one only needs 5 to 7 days to be up and running again. And don’t forget that hand washing is the best method of prevention, so load up on the soap and water and get scrubbing!
Related: Measles outbreak: What parents need to know to keep their kids safe
FAQs
1. Why are so many kids getting hand, foot, and mouth right now?
This fall, weekly cases of Coxsackievirus have more than tripled. Pediatricians are seeing multiple strains circulating at once, more indoor exposure as weather cools, and many younger children with lower natural immunity—all of which make HFMD spread more quickly than usual.
2. Does this surge mean hand, foot, and mouth is more dangerous this year?
No. Although more children are getting sick, the virus itself hasn’t become more severe. HFMD is still typically mild and self-limited. The main concern during a surge is how easily it spreads, not increased complications.
3. How can I protect my child when HFMD is going around everywhere?
Good handwashing (especially after diaper changes), cleaning frequently touched surfaces, and keeping sick children home during the first days of fever or mouth sores are the most effective steps. During a spike, consider limiting shared sensory bins, water tables, and close-contact playdates.
4. Should I keep my child home if there’s an outbreak at daycare?
You don’t need to keep your child home unless they are showing symptoms. HFMD often spreads before symptoms appear, so exposure alone isn’t a reason to miss school or daycare. Follow the standard rule: children can return when they are fever-free for 24 hours and feel well enough to participate.
5. Can kids get HFMD more than once in the same season?
Yes. Because multiple Coxsackievirus strains are circulating during this spike, some children may get HFMD twice in the same year—or even the same fall season. Immunity to one strain doesn’t protect against others.
A version of this blog was published on September 13, 2016. It has been updated.

















































































