What is hand, foot, and mouth disease?

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is an infection in young children, usually caused by the Coxsackie virus. It is easily spread through contact with the infected person's saliva, mucus, or feces.

Symptoms are usually mild and include a rash of small sores or blisters that usually appear on the hands and feet and in the mouth. The infection usually goes away on its own in about 7 to 10 days. You can use home care to help relieve your child's symptoms.