Hot Hands and Feet

About the Symptom

It describes the warm sensation felt on the limb.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Repeated fever above 38 ℃
• Fever
• Numbness / sensory disorder
• Recent weight loss
• Swelling of the affected area

Possible Causes

Generally, Hot hands and feet can be related to:

• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)

  Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a type of arthritis that occurs in children under 16 years old. It's a chronic condition characterized by joint pain and swelling that can last for months or years. It affects one or more joints for at least 6 weeks. JIA occurs when the body's immune system attacks its own tissues The cause of JIA is unknown.

• Diabetic Gangrene

  With this condition, a wound (often in the feet) does not heal well due to diabetes. Diabetes weakens circulation and the immune system resulting in poor wound healing. Diabetes also decreases sensation in the extremities so people often do not have pain or notice the tissue until it is completed dead. The tissue becomes black and dry appearing as it completely dies off. This wound may also become a source of infection leading to spread of infection to other parts of the body.

• Gout / Pseudogout

  Gout and pseudogout are diseases caused by inflammation and crystal accumulation in the joints. Gout results from uric acid crystals, while pseudogout stems from calcium pyrophosphate crystals. Both are marked by sudden, painful swelling in one or more joints. Gout attacks can be triggered by eating purine-rich foods like seafood, alcohol, and red meat, while pseudogout may be due to joint injury, surgery, or immune issues.

• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
• Fabry Disease / Lysosomal Storage Disorder
• COVID-19
• Ear Infection

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Hot hands and feet may be related to these serious diseases:

• Septic Arthritis

  Septic arthritis is an infection of a joint space. This can be caused by a wound that penetrates the joint allowing bacteria to enter, complications following surgery, or by bacteria traveling from distant sites via the bloodstream into the joint.

• Cellulitis / Erysipelas
• Osteomyelitis

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Do you have warm hands and feet?
• How often do you experience warm hands and feet?
• How long have you had hot hands and feet this time?

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