Hand, foot and mouth disease.

BACKGROUND

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common viral illness of infants and children.

OBJECTIVE

This article aims to describe the cause, presentation, management and infectivity of this virus.

DISCUSSION: Hand, foot and mouth disease is characterised by fever and vesicles in the mouth and on distal extremities. It is usually caused by coxsackie A virus and less commonly by coxsackie B and enterovirus 71. Hand, foot and mouth disease usually affects children under 10 years of age. Enteroviruses may also cause more serious disease such as meningoencephalitis and myocarditis. Treatment is symptomatic. Children are particularly infectious until the blisters have disappeared. Exclusion from school or childcare is not practical as the virus may be present in the faeces for several weeks.