Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common illness of infants and children.
•    It is a viral illness.
•    HFMD is moderately contagious. Infection is spread from person to person through direct contact with nose and throat discharges, saliva, fluid from blisters, or the stool of infected persons. A person is most contagious during the first week of the illness. HFMD is not transmitted to or from pets or other animals.
•    HFMD occurs mainly in children under 10 years old, but may also occur in adults too. Everyone is at risk of infection, but not everyone who is infected becomes ill. Infants, children, and adolescents are more likely to be susceptible to infection and illness from these viruses, because they are less likely than adults to have antibodies and be immune from previous exposures to them. Infection results in immunity to the specific virus, but a second episode may occur following infection with a different member of the enterovirus group.
•    HFMD is characterized by fever, sores in the mouth, and a rash with blisters.
•    HFMD begins with a mild fever, poor appetite, malaise ("feeling sick"), and frequently a sore throat.
•    One or 2 days after the fever begins, painful sores develop in the mouth. They begin as small red spots that blister and then often become ulcers. They are usually located on the tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks.
•    The skin rash develops over 1 to 2 days with flat or raised red spots, some with blisters. The rash does not itch, and it is usually located on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It may also appear on the buttocks.
•    A person with HFMD may have only the rash or the mouth ulcers.
•    No specific treatment is available for this or other virus infections that enter through the gastrointestinal tract. Symptomatic treatment is given to provide relief from fever, aches, or pain from the mouth ulcers.
•    HFMD is usually not serious but is a mild disease and from which nearly all patients recover without medical treatment in 7 to 10 days.
•    Complications are uncommon. However "aseptic" or viral meningitis, in which the person has fever, headache, stiff neck, or back pain, may develop and may need to be hospitalized for a few days.

Adapted from CDC website.