hand, foot and mouth disease

noun

: a usually mild contagious disease especially of young children that is caused by an enterovirus (species Human enterovirus A, especially serotype Human coxsackievirus A16) and is characterized by vesicular lesions chiefly in the mouth and on the hands and feet compare foot-and-mouth disease

Examples of hand, foot and mouth disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Prior to Tommy John surgery, Syndergaard has dealt with various ailments in his big-league career, twice landing on the Disabled List (now called the Injured List) in 2018, for a strained ligament in his right index finger, and for contracting hand, foot and mouth disease. —Christian Red, Forbes, 30 May 2021

The usual fall culprits include respiratory viruses like the common cold, influenza, croup, COVID-19, RSV, and hand, foot and mouth disease. —Dallas News, 11 Oct. 2022

Other enteroviruses cause polio and hand, foot and mouth disease. —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Sep. 2022

Tomato flu could also be a new variant of hand, foot and mouth disease, which is common among children under age 5, the Lancet article said. —Andrew Jeong, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2022

Researchers said the virus is non-life-threatening and appears to be a variation of hand, foot and mouth disease, a common childhood illness. —Leada Gore | [e-mail], al, 25 Aug. 2022

Some monkeypox rashes can look like other viruses or skin conditions such as chickenpox, hand, foot and mouth disease, herpes, measles or a skin allergic reaction like eczema. —Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 11 Aug. 2022

Some, such as the virus that causes hand, foot and mouth disease, go from person to person via unwashed hands. —NBC News, 9 Aug. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

hand, foot and mouth disease

noun

: a usually mild contagious viral disease especially of young children that is characterized by fever, malaise, sore throat, and typically painful fluid-filled blisters in the mouth, on the hands and feet, and sometimes in the diaper-covered area and is caused by an enterovirus (species Enterovirus A, especially serotype coxsackievirus A16)

Experts said hand, foot and mouth disease is very contagious, but as it hardly ever causes any serious problems, kids who get it don't need to be isolated.

—Tony Cappasso, The State Journal-Register (Springfield, Illinois)

compare foot-and-mouth disease