Hand, foot and mouth disease characteristics

Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
Updated on March 16, 2025
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Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an infectious disease caused by enterovirus, primarily characterized by scattered maculopapular or vesicular rashes on the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks. These rashes are quite distinctive; initially, there is a fever, followed by rashes on hands and feet. These are commonly found between the fingers, starting as maculopapular rashes and gradually turning into vesicular rashes. The rashes, measuring three to seven millimeters, have a firm base with slightly thickened skin over the blisters and are surrounded by erythema. They occur mainly on the extremities but can sometimes spread to the arms, legs, buttocks, or perineal area. The distribution of the rash is centrifugal, ranging from a few to dozens in number. Generally, the rashes absorb on their own within two to three days without scaling, scarring, or pigmentation, and oral blisters or ulcers usually heal within a week.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
1min 17sec home-news-image

Characteristics of hand, foot, and mouth disease rash

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a rash disease caused by an intestinal virus infection, characterized by scattered maculopapular and vesicular rashes on the hands, feet, buttocks, and other areas. Typically, small vesicles appear on the oral mucosa, or they may already have ruptured into shallow ulcers, primarily located on the tongue, buccal mucosa, palate, and inner lips. Subsequently, rashes appear on the hands and feet, most commonly as maculopapules, which then develop into vesiculopapules about three to seven millimeters in size. The vesicles have a relatively thick covering and are surrounded by reddened skin, predominantly located at the extremities. Sometimes, they may extend to the arms, legs, buttocks, or perineal area. The distribution of the rash is centrifugal, with the number of lesions varying from a few to dozens. Generally, the lesions absorb on their own within two to three days without desquamation, scarring, or pigmentation. The vesicles and ulcers in the mouth mostly heal on their own within a week.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Does hand, foot and mouth disease itch?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a condition caused by an intestinal virus, primarily characterized by herpes on the hands, feet, oral cavity, and buttocks. Some affected individuals may experience fever, ranging from low to moderate, while others may have high fever, and still others may not have any fever at all. The herpes is neither painful nor itchy, so there is no need for special treatment or handling of the herpes, just symptomatic treatment and timely fever reduction when necessary. For common cases, it is appropriate to orally administer some antiviral medications, and at the same time, take some traditional Chinese medicine that clears heat and detoxifies, while maintaining clean and hygienic skin.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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Is hand, foot, and mouth disease serious?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a contagious viral infection primarily characterized by scattered vesicular or papular rashes on the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks. It is generally a mild condition, and typical symptoms include fever and rash. It can be treated with oral medications and by taking care of oral and skin hygiene, usually healing quickly. Severe cases caused by the EV71 virus can lead to varying degrees of intracranial pressure. In such serious cases, prompt treatment with mannitol and furosemide to reduce intracranial pressure is necessary; corticosteroids may also be needed if required. For children with severe hypoxia, timely correction of oxygen deficiency is crucial, along with intravenous fluids to maintain stable blood pressure, respiration, heart rate, and microcirculation. (Please consult a professional physician for medication guidance and do not self-medicate.)

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
1min 7sec home-news-image

Hand, foot and mouth disease characteristics

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an infectious disease caused by enterovirus, primarily characterized by scattered maculopapular or vesicular rashes on the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks. These rashes are quite distinctive; initially, there is a fever, followed by rashes on hands and feet. These are commonly found between the fingers, starting as maculopapular rashes and gradually turning into vesicular rashes. The rashes, measuring three to seven millimeters, have a firm base with slightly thickened skin over the blisters and are surrounded by erythema. They occur mainly on the extremities but can sometimes spread to the arms, legs, buttocks, or perineal area. The distribution of the rash is centrifugal, ranging from a few to dozens in number. Generally, the rashes absorb on their own within two to three days without scaling, scarring, or pigmentation, and oral blisters or ulcers usually heal within a week.

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home-news-image
Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
41sec home-news-image

Is hand, foot, and mouth disease contagious?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a contagious disease caused by an infection of enteroviruses. There are more than 20 types of enteroviruses that cause the disease, with Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71 being the most common. The main clinical manifestations of this disease include blisters on the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks. Some patients may experience fever, while others may have no fever or only a mild fever. The disease is contagious and primarily transmitted through contact. For example, it can be spread through saliva, droplets, hand-to-mouth contact, and contact with the secretions from the blisters, among other methods.