Does hand, foot, and mouth disease have an incubation period?
Disease description:
My son is six years old this year. Recently, blisters suddenly appeared on his hands, and I suspect it may be hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD). Does HFMD have an incubation period?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Xie Zixing
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) has an incubation period, typically lasting about 10 days. This condition is an enteroviral infection that spreads through person-to-person contact, sharing of utensils or daily necessities, and other similar routes. The length of the incubation period generally depends on individual factors such as physical constitution and viral load. During peak HFMD seasons, children should avoid contact with infected individuals and crowded places, and indoor ventilation should be maintained daily whenever possible.
