Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly-contagious viral infection that affects mostly children in their first decade of life. It is characterized by rashes on the hands and feet and painful sores in the mouth. About 10-15 million symptomatic cases of HFMD are reported each year, and they are most commonly prevalent in the summer and the fall. Generally, the disease is self-resolving, lasting for only seven to ten days and requires little more than supportive treatment. The major concern is that since the mouth sores can be painful, a patient could resist fluid intake due to the pain upon swallowing, and dehydration can occur.
The basics of hand-foot-and-mouth disease
