How do you treat hand, foot, and mouth disease?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a virus, so there is no treatment to kill it - it clears on its own in 7 to 10 days. Care is about keeping your child comfortable and hydrated: cool fluids to soothe the mouth and prevent dehydration (but skip acidic drinks like fruit juice, which sting the ulcers), soft foods like yoghurt - nothing hot, salty, or spicy - and child-dosed acetaminophen or ibuprofen for mouth and throat pain. Mouth ulcer gels from the pharmacy can numb the sores. The two real jobs: watch fluid intake, because mouth pain makes kids refuse drinks and dehydration is the main reason children end up needing care; and contain the spread, because HFM is very contagious via saliva, mucus, blister fluid, and poo - wash hands meticulously after nappies, do not share towels or cups, and keep your child off nursery or school while they feel unwell with a fever. Adults can catch it too, usually milder. See a doctor if your child is not drinking at all, has signs of dehydration (few wet nappies, no tears, dry mouth), has a fever lasting more than a few days, seems to be getting worse, or is under 6 months. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, that can help you judge whether the sores fit HFM.