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Foot and mouth disease, caused by enteroviruses, is the most common cause of mouth ulcers in children. It is characterized by fever, sore throat, mouth and throat sores, and a rash on the palms and soles. It is highly contagious and spread through person-to-person contact, respiratory secretions, feces, and ruptured bladders. Antibiotics are ineffective, and symptoms are treated until the rash clears up.
Foot and mouth disease is the most common cause of mouth ulcers in children, mainly in the six month to three year age group. It is caused by a group of viruses called enteroviruses, most commonly coxsackievirus A16. Not to be confused with foot and mouth disease which affects cattle, sheep and pigs, it is a fairly mild disease that usually clears up on its own within seven to ten days.
Most parents find that the onset of this disease is heralded by fever, followed by sore throat, fussiness and loss of appetite. The sores in the mouth and throat come next and are characterized by white or red blisters that cover the tongue, throat and insides of the cheeks. Excessive salivation may occur due to discomfort associated with swallowing. Throat blisters lead many to believe that the child is suffering from a sore throat.
After the rash breaks out in the mouth, it moves to the palms and soles. The rash may be raised or flat and may include blisters. Because different children respond differently to illnesses, the rash may be very visible or barely leave a mark.
Thankfully, the rash associated with foot and mouth disease isn’t usually itchy when the condition occurs in children, although blisters in the mouth make eating and drinking uncomfortable. The virus is quite contagious and is spread through person-to-person contact, respiratory secretions, feces, and ruptured bladders. The incubation period is three to seven days, and the affected child is usually contagious before the fever sets in. This makes stopping the spread difficult, because parents don’t know their child is infected until it’s too late. Proper hand washing is the most effective means of slowing the spread of disease.
Once a child has been exposed, they develop immunity to the virus and will most likely not recur. Most infections occur during the summer and early fall, and the rashes tend to cluster around day care centers and schools due to the high transfer of germs between children. Pregnant women who have never been exposed to the virus may have cause for concern; if they pass it on to their child, there is a small chance that the child will develop serious infections affecting the organs.
Blood tests are available to diagnose foot and mouth disease, but due to the long waiting period, they are rarely used. Due to the viral nature of the disease, antibiotics are ineffective, so symptoms are treated until the rash clears up. Pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen are effective for fever and pain, and antihistamines can be used to treat the rash.
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