A child with a fever and sore throat who, a few days later, gets mouth ulcers and a raised rash on the hands and feet may have hand, foot and mouth disease. The NHS says it is a common childhood illness that can also affect adults, and it usually gets better on its own in 7 to 10 days. You cannot take antibiotics or other medicines to cure it, so at home use cool drinks, soft foods, and paracetamol or ibuprofen. Keep a child off school or nursery only while they’re feeling too unwell — there’s no need to wait until all the blisters have healed. Ask for an urgent GP appointment or use 111 if your child is peeing less than usual or has a very high temperature. This sets out the NHS page “Hand, foot and mouth disease”.
1. It usually gets better on its own in 7 to 10 days. Antibiotics or other medicines can’t cure it.
2. Cool drinks, soft foods, paracetamol or ibuprofen. Avoid acidic drinks like fruit juice and hot, salty or spicy food.
3. Stay off only while too unwell — no need to wait until all the blisters have healed. Peeing less or a very high temperature: urgent help.
The order of symptoms — NHS
| Stage | Symptoms the NHS lists | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| First | A sore throat, a high temperature, not wanting to eat | — |
| A few days later | Mouth ulcers and a raised rash of spots on the hands and feet | See also mouth ulcers |
Symptoms are the same in adults and children, the page says. The NHS thresholds for mouth ulcers themselves are in mouth ulcers.
What to do and not do at home — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Do | Drink cool fluids to soothe the mouth and prevent dehydration | — |
| Do | Eat soft foods like yoghurt | — |
| Do | Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for a sore mouth or throat | Choosing one: OTC medicine by symptom |
| Don’t | Have acidic drinks such as fruit juice | — |
| Don’t | Eat hot, salty and spicy foods | — |
A pharmacist can advise on treatments such as mouth ulcer gels, sprays and mouthwashes to relieve pain.
When to get help — NHS
| If | Where | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Symptoms don’t improve after 7 to 10 days | GP | — |
| You’re pregnant and get it | GP | There’s usually no risk to the pregnancy or baby |
| Your child has a very high temperature, or feels hot, cold or shivery | Urgent GP or 111 | — |
| You’re worried about your child’s symptoms | Urgent GP or 111 | — |
| Your child is peeing less than usual | Urgent GP or 111 | We read this as a dehydration sign |
This page has no 999 list. The thresholds for a child’s fever are in baby fever.
Avoiding spreading it — NHS
It spreads in coughs, sneezes, poo and the fluid in the blisters, and you’re most likely to spread it in the first 5 days after symptoms start.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water — see handwashing
- Use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze
- Don’t share towels, cups or cutlery
If you’re pregnant there’s usually no risk, but it’s best to avoid close contact with anyone who has it. We didn’t read Korean nursery or school rules this time (our note).
Checklist
- ☐ Cool drinks, soft foods
- ☐ No fruit juice or hot, salty or spicy food
- ☐ Paracetamol or ibuprofen
- ☐ First 5 days: hand washing; own towels, cups and cutlery
- ☐ Peeing less or a very high temperature: urgent help; no better after 7 to 10 days: GP
Questions that remain
Do they have to stay home until the blisters heal?
The NHS says keep them off only while they feel too unwell, and there’s no need to wait until all the blisters have healed. Check Korean nursery or school rules with them.
Can medicine make it go faster?
The NHS says antibiotics or other medicines can’t cure it. Painkillers and mouth gels ease the symptoms.
How is it different from chickenpox?
Going by the NHS pages, the hand, foot and mouth rash is in the mouth and on the hands and feet; chickenpox spots can be anywhere on the body. See chickenpox.
Sources
- NHS — Hand, foot and mouth disease — source (page shows: reviewed 10 May 2024, next review 10 May 2027; checked 19 October 2026). Symptom order, 7 to 10 days, 3 dos and 2 don’ts, pharmacist, 2 GP and 3 urgent reasons, how it spreads and the first 5 days, school, pregnancy.
- Not read. Korean agency guidance; Korean nursery and school attendance rules.
- What we added. The “worth noting” column and the Korean care gloss.
Where else to check
- A paediatric clinic — no better after 7 to 10 days, or peeing less.
Written on 19 October 2026. The content is from the NHS; the glosses are ours.
