Hand, foot and mouth disease - Diagnosing hand, foot and mouth disease

A number of viruses can cause sores and ulcers to develop in the mouth – not just those responsible for hand, foot and mouth disease.

However, your GP should be able to distinguish hand, foot and mouth disease from other viral infections by:

• the age of the affected person – hand, foot and mouth disease is most common in children under the age of 10
• the pattern of symptoms – symptoms begin with a high temperature and a sore throat; ulcers then develop in your child’s mouth, followed by a spotty rash on their hands and feet
• the appearance of sores – these are smaller than chickenpox sores and usually have a distinctive colour, size and shape

Hand, foot and mouth disease can be confirmed (or ruled out) by taking a swab of the affected skin, throat or rectum and checking it for infection. For children, a stool sample may be used instead.