Can a child get hand, foot, and mouth disease again after having it once?
Disease description:
My child is 5 years old. Recently, many small pimples suddenly appeared on his upper limbs. After visiting the hospital for examination, the doctor diagnosed the condition as hand, foot, and mouth disease. I would like to know whether children who have had hand, foot, and mouth disease can get it again?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
Children who have contracted hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) can still be reinfected. This is because HFMD is caused by various enteroviruses, such as Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71, and there is no cross-immunity among different viruses. After infection and recovery, children may become ill again if their immunity decreases or they come into contact with other types of enteroviruses. Additionally, the transmission routes of HFMD are complex, including fecal-oral transmission, respiratory droplets, and close contact, which further increases the risk of reinfection. Therefore, parents should pay attention to their children's personal hygiene, strengthen their immunity, and avoid close contact with individuals who have HFMD to reduce the chances of reinfection.
