How long coxsackie virus contagious

A blister-like rash on the hands, feet and in the mouth usually develops one to two days after the initial symptoms. A person is contagious when the first symptoms appear and may continue until the blister-like skin lesions disappear. The virus has been known to be shed in the stool for up to several weeks. The diagnosis is generally suspected on the appearance of blister-like rash on hands and feet and mouth in a child with a mild febrile illness. Although specific viral tests are available to confirm the diagnosis, they are rarely performed due to expense and length of time needed to complete the tests.

Specific immunity can occur, but a second episode is possible from a different strain of Coxsackie virus. There is no specific treatment. Treatment is aimed at fever control and maintaining good oral hydration. The illness is typically mild, complications are rare. More serious infections have been seen recently with a certain strain of Coxsackie viral infection in Indonesia.

Children who feel ill or have a fever should be excluded from group settings until the fever is gone and the child feels well. Animals do not get hand, foot, and mouth disease Animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats can get foot and mouth disease or hoof-and-mouth disease , which is different than hand, foot, and mouth disease. Related Topics. Wash Your Hands. Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds to stop germs from spreading.

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Cancel Continue. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Caused by a strain of the coxsackievirus, hand, foot and mouth disease is best known for the blister-like rash it causes on the hands, feet and mouth. However, this rash can appear all over the body. The first symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease that show up include fever, lack of appetite, sore throat and a runny nose.

A day or two later, a blister-like rash appears on the hands, feet or mouth. Hand, foot and mouth disease spreads through direct contact with these blisters, as well as the droplets expelled when you sneeze or cough.

You are most contagious during the first few days of being sick, often before the blisters appear. Once these blisters dry up, you are less likely to pass on the virus. Hand, foot and mouth disease is very common and usually affects infants and children under the age of 5.