HFMD: Causes and How It Spreads

Key points

  • HFMD is caused by several enteroviruses and spreads easily from person to person.
  • You can get infected with HFMD if you get the virus in your eyes, nose, or mouth.
  • HFMD is not related to foot-and-mouth disease found in animals.
Three babies playing with blocks and putting toys in their mouths.

What causes it

HFMD is caused by viruses that belong to the enterovirus family:

  • Coxsackievirus A16 is typically the most common cause of HFMD in the United States. Other coxsackieviruses can also cause the illness.
  • Coxsackievirus A6 can also cause HFMD and the symptoms may be more severe.
  • Enterovirus 71 (EV-A71) has been associated with cases and outbreaks in East and Southeast Asia. Although rare, EV-A71 has been associated with more severe diseases such as encephalitis (swelling of the brain).
Keep Reading: About Non-Polio Enteroviruses

Common ways it spreads

HFMD spreads mostly in the summer and fall in the United States, but you can get it any time of year. It can spread quickly at schools and day care centers.

You can get HFMD from:

  • Contact with droplets that have virus particles after a sick person coughs, sneezes, or talks.
  • Touching an infected person or making other close contact, like kissing, hugging, or sharing cups or eating utensils.
  • Touching an infected person's poop, such as changing diapers, then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
  • Touching objects and surfaces that have the virus on them, like doorknobs or toys, then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Although rare, you can also get these viruses by swallowing recreational water, like in swimming pools. This can happen if the water is not properly treated with chlorine. The water can become contaminated with the poop from a person who has HFMD.

Keep Reading: About HFMD and How to Prevent It

Not the same as foot-and-mouth disease

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is often confused with foot-and-mouth disease (also called hoof-and-mouth disease). Foot-and-mouth disease is different and affects cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs.

Humans do not get the animal disease, and animals do not get the human disease.

Cow snuggling her calf
Animals like cattle cannot get nor spread HFMD.
See Also: Foot-and-Mouth Disease | USDA APHIS

When you are contagious

People with HFMD are usually most contagious during the first week that they are sick. However, people can still spread the virus to others for days or weeks after symptoms go away. They can spread it even if they have no symptoms at all.

If someone is sick with HFMD, the virus can be found in their:

  • Nose and throat secretions, such as saliva, drool, or nasal mucus
  • Fluid from blisters
  • Poop

Resources

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Content Source:
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)