What Is Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease?
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common, mild viral illness that usually occurs in children younger than 5, although it can affect adolescents and adults, too. Hand, foot and mouth disease is considered a minor illness that can cause a range of symptoms, including irritability, loss of appetite, fever, sore throat, painful lesions on the inside of the mouth, and a red rash on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and sometimes the buttocks. The rash typically does not itch, but it can blister.
Although it is often confused with hoof-and-mouth disease, the two diseases are caused by different viruses, and hoof-and-mouth disease affects only sheep, pigs, and cattle. Humans cannot contract hoof-and-mouth disease.