Hand, foot and mouth disease, a common childhood infection whose signs are sores in the back of the throat and blisters on the hands and feet, is generally harmless and self-limiting.
"Parents who see this type of rash should have the child examined to make sure the infection is not something more serious," said Dr. William Borkowsky, a pediatrician and director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at New York University Medical Center.Hand, foot and mouth disease is caused by a coxsackie virus, one of a group of viruses often found in the intestinal tract. Most cases are thought to be caused by coxsackie virus A-16, A-5 and A-10, but some coxsackie virus B strains are associated with these symptoms as well. Those coxsackie virus A strains rarely lead to serious complications, Borkowsky observed.
The virus is found in the saliva and stool of an infected child. A child may contract the virus when an infected child's saliva enters his or her mouth, which may commonly occur when children bathe or swim together.
While sores in the back of the throat, mouth or tongue, blisters on the hands and feet, and occasionally a rash in the diaper area are characteristic of the disease, there are often no symptoms at all, the pediatrician said.
The disease can be diagnosed through a number of factors. The infection usually occurs between May and November, with a peak in summer. Generally the infected child has no fever, nausea or discomfort. The blisters' distribution is often distinguishing.
The disease typically runs its course within a week. There is little discomfort or danger, and no specific treatment is necessary. "Occasionally the mouth sores can be painful when the child is drinking juice or other acidic beverages, and parents may want to substitute milk for juice," Borkowsky suggested.