When Should I Seek Further Medical Guidance for Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease?

Family Medicine, Primary Care Roots Community Health Center, Hippo Education, Kameda Medical Center

Supervised by Kenji Taylor, MD

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is generally a minor illness. However, consider seeking further guidance for those younger than 6 months of age, a weakened immune system, fever persisting beyond 5 days or inability to take fluids due to sore throat.

Explanation

Hand, foot, and mouth disease itself usually improves on its own if you rest properly and get plenty of nutrition and fluids. Additionally, missing school or work in mild instances is not necessary. However, if you are at increased risk for more severe illness (age less than 6 months, weakened immune system), fever persists beyond 5 days or you are unable to drink fluids because of severe sore throat, please seek further medical attention.

(References)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, May 24). ](https://www.cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/about/index.html)[_Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) - About_](https://www.cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/about/index.html)[. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Zhu P, Ji W, Li D, Li Z, Chen Y, Dai B, Han S, Chen S, Jin Y, Duan G. Current status of hand-foot-and-mouth disease. J Biomed Sci. 2023 Feb 24;30(1):15. doi: 10.1186/s12929-023-00908-4. PMID: 36829162; PMCID: PMC9951172.

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Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFM)

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