Question
Can a child get hand, foot, and mouth disease again after having it? Can they have the antigen in their body?
Answer
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a relatively common pediatric condition caused by viruses, most often enteroviruses and Coxsackieviruses. The main clinical symptoms are rashes on the hands, feet, and mouth along with fever. It is more common during spring or summer. Sometimes children can have two or even three episodes within a year. When preventing a recurrence, it’s important to maintain good personal hygiene for the child.