Prevention & Treatment

Español: Prevención y tratamiento de la enfermedad de manos, pies y boca

Prevention

There is no vaccine to protect against the viruses that cause hand, foot, and mouth disease.

You can lower your risk of being infected by doing the following:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after changing diapers and using the toilet. Visit CDC's Clean Hands Save Lives! for more information.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and soiled items, including toys.
• Avoid close contact such as kissing, hugging, or sharing eating utensils or cups with people with hand, foot, and mouth disease.

If a person has mouth sores, it might be painful to swallow. However, it is important for people with hand, foot, and mouth disease to drink enough liquids to prevent dehydration (loss of body fluids). If a person cannot swallow enough liquids, they may need to receive them through an IV in their vein.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for hand, foot, and mouth disease. However, you can do some things to relieve symptoms, such as

• Take over-the-counter medications to relieve pain and fever (Caution: Aspirin should not be given to children.)
• Use mouthwashes or sprays that numb mouth pain

If you are concerned about your symptoms you should contact your health care provider.