hand, foot, and mouth disease

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Last updated

July 19, 2026

Quick Summary

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a contagious illness, typically mild, that primarily affects young children. It is caused by an enterovirus, most commonly coxsackievirus A16 or enterovirus A71. The disease is characterized by the appearance of small, fluid-filled blisters, mainly on the hands, feet, and inside the mouth.1

It is important to distinguish HFMD from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which affects cloven-footed domesticated mammals like cattle, sheep, and pigs. FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause significant economic losses in livestock. While FMD can cause blisters on the mouth and feet, it is not a human health hazard.2

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herpangina
Herpangina is related to hand, foot, and mouth disease, which is caused by some of the same viruses; the latter, however, is characterized by sores on the hands and feet in addition to the mouth and is much more common in adults, in whom it can cause severe illness.
Read More
Herpangina is related to hand, foot, and mouth disease, which is caused by some of the same viruses; the latter, however, is characterized by sores on the hands and feet in addition to the mouth and is much more common in adults, in whom it can cause severe illness.
Read More