Hand, pes, and rima oris affliction is a contagious viral illness nigh mutual in infants and young children. However, adults can also develop the illness if they take exposure to the virus.

Hand, foot, and rima oris affliction (HFMD) can produce the same symptoms in adults as in children, but adults are more than likely than children to exist asymptomatic.

This article discusses the symptoms and treatment of HFMD in adults.

This image shows how hand, foot, and mouth disease presents on the hands. Share on Pinterest
This epitome shows how hand, foot, and oral cavity disease presents on the hands. Karl_BlaoStock/Shutterstock

According to the Centers for Affliction Control and Prevention (CDC), HFMD is generally not serious in adults or children.

The CDC annotation that almost people, regardless of their historic period, recover from HFMD in 7–x days without medical treatment.

The American Academy of Dermatology Association state that near adults exercise not experience symptoms if they contract HFMD. Those who exercise volition generally take benign symptoms.

Complications that require medical intervention occur only very rarely.

When adults do become symptoms of HFMD, they are the same every bit those in children.

The symptoms tin include:

  • sores in the oral fissure
  • an itchy rash on the hands, anxiety, or both
  • fever
  • flu-like symptoms

Enterovirus viruses cause HFMD. According to the CDC, the viruses that most commonly crusade the illness include:

  • Coxsackievirus A16: This virus is the most common crusade of HFMD in the United States.
  • Coxsackievirus A6: People who contract this virus may experience more severe symptoms.
  • Enterovirus 71 (EV-A71): This virus is the well-nigh common cause of HFMD in East and Southeast Asia.

A doctor will diagnose HFMD by carrying out a physical test. This exam might involve the doctor:

  • examining the rashes around the person'south mouth, anxiety, and hands
  • asking the person most their symptoms
  • taking a pharynx swab or stool sample to check for the presence of the virus

The medico may likewise consider the person'due south historic period. Children aged 5 years and younger are the most likely to have the disease. A person should tell their md if they recall that they may have had exposure to the virus as a issue of contact with a child.

According to the CDC, almost all cases of HFMD clear up within 7–10 days with no medical intervention.

Even so, a person can treat the symptoms of HFMD at home past:

  • taking fever reducers (acetaminophen or ibuprofen) to help keep the fever down
  • drinking plenty of water and other fluids to help prevent dehydration
  • using a numbing mouthwash to alleviate the pain of mouth sores
  • avoiding hot and spicy foods

An adult may not need any treatment if they practice not have whatever symptoms of the infection.

If a person has symptoms, these should go away with or without treatment within 7–10 days. Adults may wish to accept a few days off work if they have severe symptoms.

Information technology is of import to notation that the virus tin can pass to others for several days or even weeks after the symptoms get away.

Post-obit preventive steps, including washing the hands frequently and avoiding close contact with others, tin help stop the spread of HFMD.

The virus tin also transmit from people who take no symptoms. All the same, adults who are asymptomatic will commonly not realize that they have the infection, then they are likely to go along their lives as normal.

In virtually cases, the take a chance of complications from HFMD is low.

The largest gamble is aridity. The CDC also place the post-obit rare complications:

  • loss of fingernails or toenails
  • encephalitis or polio-similar paralysis
  • viral meningitis, also called aseptic meningitis

People who are pregnant should let their healthcare provider know if they have developed symptoms of HFMD.

A person tin have steps to avoid condign sick. Many of the prevention methods for HFMD are also expert for preventing other illnesses, such as the common cold. Measures to reduce the risk of an infection include:

  • washing the hands frequently and thoroughly
  • avoiding close contact with people who have HFMD
  • washing and disinfecting surfaces and high-touch items regularly

An adult with HFMD may not need to speak with their doctor. Nonetheless, if they experience a fever, mouth sores, and sores on their hands or anxiety, they may wish to seek medical communication.

Parents or caregivers of young children who get-go to show symptoms of HFMD will likely not need to see their doctor if they tin command the symptoms at home.

However, children or adults should come across a doctor if their symptoms practice not better within 10 days.

People with a weakened immune system should talk to their doctor about HFMD, specially if their symptoms are severe. People who become HFMD during pregnancy should also brand their healthcare provider aware.

A parent or caregiver should talk with a pediatrician if their child shows signs of the infection, particularly if other children at their school or twenty-four hours care centre have the disease.

They should also seek medical advice if the kid has severe symptoms, is very young, or is unable to eat or potable enough fluids.

Although adults can get HFMD, they frequently experience no symptoms, so they may non realize that they have contracted the virus.

Those who do have symptoms of the disease can expect to make a total recovery inside 7–10 days.

Hand, foot, and oral cavity disease is a common viral infection. Infants and young children are about susceptible, but information technology tin can sometimes bear upon adults and older children.

A person tin can reduce their take chances of contracting the virus by avoiding people who are sick, washing their easily regularly, and refraining from sharing drinks or food with others.

Treatment typically involves managing the symptoms, if whatsoever appear. A person tin can expect to recover in about 7–10 days.