Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Treatment Overview

Treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth disease is not usually needed. In general, symptoms of the disease go away in 7 to 10 days without treatment.

You may choose to treat your child's symptoms to soothe discomfort and pain caused by sore throat, fever, or pain from blisters. Appropriate medicine choices include:

• Acetaminophen, such as Tylenol.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen.

Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20 unless directed to do so by your doctor. Aspirin use is linked to a rare but serious disease, Reye syndrome, that most often occurs in children and adolescents.

People who have certain problems with their immune system (antibody deficiencies) and get hand-foot-and-mouth disease may be treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).

If symptoms do not improve in about a week, see your doctor.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: April 22, 2009
Medical Review:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
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