Hand, foot and mouth disease

In spite of its name, this has absolutely nothing in common with foot and mouth disease of cattle. It is a mild illness caused by the coxsackie A16 virus. There is often no fever, and just mild cold symptoms. The rash consists of tiny blisters on the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet, and inside the mouth. These last a few days and heal without scarring.

What to do

• No treatment is necessary for hand, foot and mouth disease, and it is not known to cause any complications in normal healthy children