Hand, foot and mouth disease: symptoms, how long it lasts and how it spreads

The NHS describes two stages. The first symptoms can be a sore throat, a high temperature and not wanting to eat. The second stage usually starts a few days later.

NHS inform says the symptoms are usually mild and are the same in children and adults.

• Mouth ulcers, which can be painful. NHS inform says after 1 or 2 days red spots appear on the tongue and inside the mouth and can develop into larger yellow-grey mouth ulcers with red edges, which make eating, drinking and swallowing difficult. They should pass within a week.

• A raised rash of spots on the hands and feet, and sometimes the groin area and bottom. The NHS says the spots can look pink, red or darker than the surrounding skin depending on your skin tone.

• The spots can turn into blisters, which the NHS says may be grey or lighter than the surrounding skin and can be painful. NHS inform says the spots and blisters can be itchy or uncomfortable and usually last up to 10 days.

The NHS says it usually gets better on its own in 7 to 10 days. NHS inform says it will usually clear up by itself within 7 to 10 days and you can normally look after yourself or your child at home.

See a GP if symptoms do not improve after 7 to 10 days. NHS inform also says to contact your GP practice if symptoms are getting worse.

Yes. The NHS says it is easily passed on to other people and is spread in coughs, sneezes, poo and the fluid in the blisters. You can start spreading it from a few days before you have any symptoms, but you are most likely to spread it to others in the first 5 days after symptoms start.

The NHS says you can get it more than once. NHS inform explains that the infection is caused by many different viruses, so you can get it again, and that most people develop immunity to these viruses as they get older.

The NHS suggests the following to reduce the risk of spreading it.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, and children's hands too.

• Use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze, and bin used tissues as quickly as possible.

• Do not share towels or household items such as cups or cutlery.

• Wash soiled bedding and clothing on a hot wash.

The NHS says you cannot take antibiotics or other medicines to cure it, and NHS inform explains antibiotics will not help because it is caused by a virus. The aim is to ease symptoms while it clears.

• Drink cool fluids to soothe the mouth and prevent dehydration, but avoid acidic drinks such as fruit juice.

• Eat soft foods like yoghurt and avoid hot, salty and spicy foods.

• Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease a sore mouth or throat, or a fever.

• Ask a pharmacist about mouth ulcer gels, sprays and mouthwashes to relieve pain, and which are suitable for children.

• Rest at home (NHS inform).

The NHS describes it as a common childhood illness. It advises keeping your child off school or nursery while they feel too unwell to go. As soon as they are feeling better they can go back, and there is no need to wait until all the blisters have healed. The NHS says keeping your child away from other children for longer is unlikely to stop the illness spreading.

NHS inform advises staying off work, school or nursery until you or your child are feeling better.

Dehydration is the main concern in young children with painful mouth ulcers. The NHS says to ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if your child has hand, foot and mouth disease and is peeing less than usual, as they may be becoming dehydrated.

The NHS says hand, foot and mouth disease is a common childhood illness that can also affect adults, and that symptoms are usually mild and are the same in adults and children. The same advice on rest, fluids, pain relief and hygiene applies.

Adults are advised to stay off work until feeling better by NHS inform, and to wash hands often and avoid sharing cups, utensils, towels and clothes.

The NHS says there is usually no risk to the pregnancy or baby, but it is best to avoid close contact with anyone who has hand, foot and mouth disease. This is because getting it shortly before giving birth can mean your baby is born with a mild version of it.

The NHS says to see a GP if you are pregnant and get hand, foot and mouth disease, and to check with your GP surgery before going in because it can be spread to other people (they may suggest a phone consultation). Speak to a GP or midwife if you have been in contact with someone with the illness. NHS inform says to speak to your GP practice if you become infected within a few weeks of your due date.

The NHS says to see a GP if symptoms do not improve after 7 to 10 days, or if you are pregnant and get hand, foot and mouth disease.

It says to ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if any of the following apply.

• You or your child has a very high temperature, or feels hot, cold or shivery.

• You are worried about your child's symptoms.

• Your child has hand, foot and mouth disease and is peeing less than usual, which may mean they are becoming dehydrated.

Most cases are managed at home, with advice from a pharmacist. On the NHS, a GP or NHS 111 is the route if symptoms are not improving or you are worried, and it is worth phoning the GP surgery first because the illness can be passed on in a waiting room.

A private GP or paediatric consultation is possible for quicker advice, but the same principles apply: there is no medicine that cures it, and review is for symptom control, hydration and ruling out other causes of rash and fever.