Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is common in children under 5 years old, but anyone can get it.
The illness is usually not serious, but it is very contagious. It spreads quickly at schools and day care centers.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is often confused with foot-and-mouth disease (also called hoof-and-mouth disease), which affects cows, sheep, and pigs.
Humans do not get the animal disease, and animals do not get the human disease.
Visit the National Agricultural Library of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to learn more about Foot-and-Mouth Diseaseexternal icon.