Is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Contagious?
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a contagious disease. The initial few days of the sickness, often before the rash, are when your child is most contagious. Usually, blisters heal in 10 days or less. When the blisters heal, your child will be less likely to transfer it to others. Although the rash eventually goes away, the virus might continue to exist in their stool (poop) for weeks.
How Does HFM Disease Spread?
The illness is extremely contagious, here are some of the ways it spreads:
- When an infected person sneezes or coughs, airborne droplets are released.
- Direct touch with the blisters of an infected person.
- Touching your lips, eyes, or nose after coming into contact with an infected person’s saliva or feces.
- Sharing cups, towels, or clothing, as well as dining utensils.
- Embracing or kissing a virus-carrier.
- Touching contaminated toys, surfaces, doorknobs, or other objects before touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.
The majority of cases of hand, foot, and mouth illness occur in infants and young children under the age of five. Children at daycare and schools, as well as infants, are more susceptible to contract the illness.