What Is HFMD?
2. Causes
Hand foot and mouth disease is usually caused by the coxsackievirus A16 virus. It belongs in the enterovirus family of viruses, and there are other enteroviruses that can cause hand foot and mouth disease. It tends to be contracted after infected particles have been ingested.
The main methods of transmission include through saliva, and in droplets generated from sneezing or coughing. It can also be caught from the fluid of burst blisters, and also from the fecal matter of infected people. The condition is more common in young children partly because they put their hands in their mouths more frequently, and also because they tend to stay in groups.
Advertisement