Causes of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Children

Question

After today’s kindergarten dismissal, parents noticed red spots on their child’s hands. After examination, it was confirmed to be hand, foot, and mouth disease. What factors cause hand, foot, and mouth disease in children?

Answer

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common infectious disease seen in children, whose causes are often related to enterovirus infections. The disease usually presents with acute fever, oral pain, decreased appetite, and scattered blisters or ulcers on the oral mucosa. These symptoms may appear on the tongue, buccal mucosa, hard palate, and may extend to the soft palate, gums, tonsils, and pharynx. In addition, the child’s hands, feet, buttocks, arms, and legs may develop spots and papules that later turn into blisters. The blisters are often surrounded by inflammatory erythema and contain less fluid. The blisters of hand, foot, and mouth disease are usually concentrated on the hands and feet, especially on the palms and soles.