Hand, foot and mouth disease: drinking and when a child needs care

Arrange same-day medical assessment for an affected baby under six months, a child becoming dehydrated, having difficulty breathing, or behaving unusually with fever, vomiting and headache. For respiratory distress with blue lips or trouble speaking, call 15 or 112 immediately in France.

This viral infection can cause painful mouth lesions and spots on the palms or soles. Mouth pain can make a child refuse drinks. Numerous lesions or uncertainty about their cause require examination; appearance alone does not replace diagnosis.

Offer drinks frequently and soft, cool foods; avoid hot or hard foods that increase pain. If intake becomes insufficient, seek medical advice. A doctor may prescribe oral rehydration solution when the situation requires it.

Antibiotics do not treat this virus. Ask for comfort measures suitable for the child. Mouth preparations containing local anaesthetics and antiseptic mouthwashes are contraindicated in children in this context: they are not a shortcut to easier meals.

Use mild soap for skin lesions and pat dry without rubbing. Keep nails short. Do not apply talc, powders or creams to the lesions; ask for advice about any products that may be useful.

The infection can spread through secretions, lesions, stools and contaminated objects. Inform the nursery or school and discuss instructions with the doctor. Seek same-day advice after exposure if you have immune deficiency or take long-term corticosteroids, or if the illness develops during pregnancy.