Can hand, foot, and mouth disease recur?

Oct 17, 2023 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lu Chengyu
Introduction
Hand, foot, and mouth disease generally does not recur. If someone has already had the disease, it is unlikely to reoccur within a short period of time; however, reinfection can still happen. Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an acute infectious illness caused by enteroviruses. More than 20 types of enteroviruses can cause this disease, among which Coxsackievirus is the most common.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) generally does not recur. If someone has already had HFMD, it is unlikely to reoccur in the short term, but they may still contract the disease again later. The details are as follows:

HFMD is a highly contagious disease caused by enteroviruses. More than 20 types of enteroviruses can cause HFMD, among which Coxsackievirus is the most common. This illness frequently occurs in children under five years old, particularly those attending kindergartens. Due to close group living conditions, cross-infection is easily facilitated, often leading to clustered outbreaks. Therefore, HFMD is a key target for prevention and control in kindergarten settings. Generally, HFMD does not recur because, during treatment, the patient's body produces specific antibodies against the infecting virus, providing temporary protection against reinfection by the same strain. However, after recovery, individuals may still develop HFMD again at a later time—this is not considered a recurrence, but rather a new infection caused by a different viral strain. Since there are many different types of enteroviruses responsible for HFMD, it is essential to strictly follow medical advice and maintain excellent personal hygiene even after full recovery.

It is recommended that patients seek timely medical attention when experiencing symptoms and receive standardized treatment under a doctor’s guidance, which helps promote recovery.

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