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Home › Articles › Nutrition and Health › Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

How Much Do You Know About This Viral Infection?

By Teri Brown

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The feces of an infected child may be contaminated for several weeks even after the child is better.

The most concerning problem with this disease is that it often becomes too painful for the child to eat or drink. While eating very little for a day or so isn't too concerning, not drinking can be problematic.

Acetaminophen, ibuprofen and topical analgesics, such as throat spray for children or a teething gel for babies, may help with the pain. Try giving liquids with a straw or spoon and frozen juice bars.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is uncomfortable, but not nearly as bad as it looks. And like colds and the flu, it is just a part of childhood.

4 Tips to Help Your Child Feel Better
  • Frozen ice pops and frozen juice bars are now your child's best friend. Not only will they get much needed liquid into your child's mouth, but the cold will help ease the pain.
  • Straws will help your child drink without too much contact with the cankers.
  • Topical numbing agents or teething relief medications can be used on the cankers to help ease the pain.
  • Pudding, ice cream and gelatin can all be eaten with a minimum of discomfort.


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