When can my kid go back to school after hand, foot and mouth?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Once the fever is gone and your child feels well enough to join in - the CDC does not call for exclusion over lingering spots. The practical gatekeepers: fever or feeling rotten means home; uncontrolled drooling from mouth sores means home; open weeping blisters are worth covering or an extra day. The virus sheds in stool for weeks, so handwashing and disinfecting toys matter more than long exclusion. Check your school's own policy too.
What to do
- Use the fever-plus-feeling test. No fever and up for the day is the base rule.
- Watch the drool. Uncontrolled drooling from mouth pain is a real spread route - home day.
- Cover open blisters. Blister fluid carries virus; covered spots pose less risk.
- Check the school policy. Daycares and schools set their own return rules.
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