Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease in Hong Kong: All You Need to Know

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common childhood disease that is most prevalent in Hong Kong from May to July, and October to December.

We spoke to pediatrician Dr. June Chan 陳善珩醫生 about what to look out for during HFMD season and how to provide relief to our little ones.

Signs and symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease

HFMD disease is usually not a serious illness but it does make children miserable for a few days. A small proportion of children can develop more severe illness. It causes fever, a sore throat, sores or blisters in the mouth, low appetite, irritability and a rash that may appear on hands, feet, face and/or buttocks. The rash typically appears as flat red dots, sometimes with blisters. HFMD generally presents very mildly in adults, but they can still pass on the disease.

Relief of hand, foot and mouth disease symptoms

HFMD makes children pretty miserable due to their fever and mouth ulcers. To keep them comfortable, you can provide an appropriate dosage of children’s fever medication (i.e. paracetamol/acetaminophen, ibuprofen) to prevent their fever from spiking. To ensure your child is taking in adequate fluids and food, it can be helpful to provide cold options. Anything frozen (frozen breastmilk or formula if they’re not yet on solids, frozen fruit, a cold smoothie) will help relieve their mouth pain and encourage them to take in some calories.

Some young children may not be able to take in enough fluids because of the sores in their mouth. You should contact your doctor if it is the case.

Infectious and incubation periods of hand, foot and mouth disease

The incubation period refers to the time between catching the virus and symptoms developing. The incubation period for HFMD is 3-7 days. The disease is most contagious during the first week of the illness and the virus can be found in stool for weeks. Sick children should stay away from school or gatherings until all mouth sores have dried up and their rash has disappeared.

Prevention and control of hand, foot and mouth disease

HFMD virus is particularly contagious and spreads very easily as it can live for several hours outside the body and is spread through saliva, mucus and stool.

• Disinfecting shared toys can help prevent spreading the virus;
• Cover nose and mouth when sneezing; and
• Wash hands after handling body secretions.

When should you see a doctor?

Seek prompt medical attention if your child has a persistent high fever, decrease in alertness or poor oral intake.

Dr. June Chan 陳善珩醫生 is a pediatrician in private practice. She received her medical training at the University of Hong Kong. During her work in the public sector, she furthered her training in pediatrics, specializing in pediatric respirology and sleep medicine. She practices in Central providing comprehensive care to newborns and children.