Hand, foot and mouth disease: what actually helps, nursery rules, and when to call a GP
It starts with a grizzly toddler and a slight fever, and a day later there are spots on little hands and a sore mouth that makes eating a battle. Hand, foot and mouth disease is one of the most common childhood infections in the UK, and if your child has brought it home from nursery you are in very large company this autumn. The reassuring truth is that almost every child recovers at home within a week to ten days. The useful truth is that a few things genuinely help, a few things parents often get wrong, and a small number of children need a doctor. At The Online GP by The Wellness, our doctors assess children with rashes and fevers by video every day, and most parents tell us the calm plan alone was worth the call.
Key points
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a mild viral illness, most common in children under ten, caused by coxsackievirus.
It causes fever, a sore mouth with small ulcers, and a spotty rash on the hands and feet, sometimes the bottom and legs too.
There is no specific treatment; it clears on its own in seven to ten days. Care is fluids, soft food and fever medicine.
It spreads easily, but children can usually return to nursery once they feel well enough, even if spots remain.
It is NOT the same as foot and mouth disease in animals; they are completely unrelated.
A same-day phone consultation at The Online GP costs from £59 if you are unsure what you are looking at.
What hand, foot and mouth disease actually is
Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a viral infection caused most often by coxsackievirus A16. It spreads through coughs and sneezes, fluid from the spots, and contact with surfaces an infected child has touched, which is why it moves through nurseries so efficiently. It is most common in children under ten, though adults can catch it too, usually more mildly.
The typical course: two to three days of fever, sore throat and tiredness, then small ulcers appear inside the mouth, and spots or small blisters appear on the hands and feet. Some children also get a rash on the bottom, legs or arms. The mouth ulcers are usually the worst part, because they make eating and drinking hurt.
What genuinely helps at home
Because there is no specific cure, care is about comfort and hydration:
Fluids come first. Offer cold drinks little and often: water, milk, or an ice lolly, which soothes the mouth and counts as fluid. Avoid acidic juices like orange, which sting the ulcers.
Soft, bland food. Yoghurt, porridge, mashed potato, scrambled egg. Do not worry about how much they eat for a few days; drinking matters more.
Paracetamol or ibuprofen for fever and pain, at the dose on the bottle for your child's age. Never aspirin for under-16s.
Rest and patience. Most children are back to themselves within a week, though the spots can linger a little longer.
When a pharmacy is enough, and when you need a GP
Your pharmacist can advise on fever medicines and soothing gels, and most children need nothing more. Book a same-day GP consultation if:
your child is not drinking, or wet nappies have dropped off sharply - dehydration is the main risk;
the fever lasts more than five days, or your child seems to be getting worse rather than better;
they are unusually drowsy, floppy or irritable in a way that worries you;
you are not sure the rash is hand, foot and mouth - several childhood rashes look similar at first glance;
you are pregnant and your child has been diagnosed (worth a conversation, see below);
your child has a weakened immune system.
A video consultation is genuinely useful here: our doctors can look at the rash and the mouth on camera, confirm what it is, rule out the lookalikes, and give you a clear plan. Phone consultations cost £59 for 15 minutes and video consultations £150.
When to seek urgent help
Complications are rare, but call 999 or go to A and E if your child has a severe headache with a stiff neck, is breathing fast or struggling to breathe, has a fit, develops a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it, or is so drowsy you cannot wake them properly. Trust your instincts: a child who looks seriously unwell to you deserves urgent assessment.
Nursery, siblings and pregnancy
Unlike chickenpox, official guidance does not require children with hand, foot and mouth to stay off nursery or school once they feel well enough to join in, though many settings have their own policies. Good handwashing is the practical defence for the rest of the family. Adults who catch it usually get a milder version.
If you are pregnant, hand, foot and mouth is generally low risk, but it is worth speaking to a doctor if you have been in close contact with a case, particularly in the weeks before your due date. A quick consultation gives you a clear answer rather than days of worry.
What it costs
A walk-in clinic visit in central London typically costs £100 to £250 before anything is prescribed. A phone consultation at The Online GP costs £59 for 15 minutes and a video consultation £150, with the doctor able to see the rash properly on camera. Most families need nothing beyond reassurance and a plan, and you will have both within the hour. The NHS remains the right route for many families, and NHS 111 is always there overnight; our role is to be available when you want a doctor's full attention, now, without the wait.
Why parents choose The Online GP by The Wellness
Because a rash on your child's hands at bedtime should not mean a night of anxious image-searching. Our GMC-registered doctors look at the rash, tell you plainly what it is, and give you a plan you can act on tonight: home care with clear safety nets, or the honest instruction that your child needs examining in person. Most parents tell us the certainty alone was worth the call.
Book a same-day phone consultation from £59, or message us on WhatsApp at +44 7961 280835 and we will find you the next available doctor. You can also call 020 3951 3429. If your child has a different rash, our guides to chickenpox and impetigo cover the other common culprits.
Frequently asked questions
How long does hand, foot and mouth disease last?
Most children recover fully in seven to ten days. The fever usually settles in three to four days, the mouth ulcers within a week, and the spots fade over a week or so. If your child is getting worse after a week rather than better, speak to a GP.
Is hand, foot and mouth disease contagious?
Yes, quite easily, through coughs and sneezes, the fluid in the blisters, and contact with contaminated surfaces. Children are most contagious in the first few days. Careful handwashing is the best protection for siblings and adults.
Should my child stay off nursery or school?
UKHSA guidance says children can attend once they feel well enough, even if spots remain, because the virus circulates before symptoms show. Individual nurseries sometimes have stricter policies, so check with yours. Keep your child home while they are feverish or miserable.
Can adults catch hand, foot and mouth disease?
Yes, though it is usually milder: a sore mouth, a few spots, perhaps a day or two feeling rough. Adults with weakened immune systems should be more careful. The same care rules apply: fluids, soft food, paracetamol.
Is it the same as foot and mouth disease in farm animals?
No, they are completely unrelated illnesses with confusingly similar names. Hand, foot and mouth disease in children is caused by a human virus and has nothing to do with the animal disease.
How much does a consultation cost at The Online GP?
Phone consultations are £59 for 15 minutes, video consultations £150, and in-person appointments £220 at our clinic at Unit 4, 10 Portman Square, London W1H 6AZ. For a rash question, video is usually the best choice because the doctor can see the spots properly.
References
NHS: Hand, foot and mouth disease, reviewed 2024.
UKHSA: guidance on infections in schools and childcare settings, 2025.
NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary: hand, foot and mouth disease, 2024.
Written by The Wellness Team and medically reviewed by The Wellness Clinical Team. This article is general information and is not a substitute for a personal consultation. If your child is seriously unwell, call 999.