Exact Answer: Three Days
HFMD is a disease that leads to the appearance of ulcers in and around the infected’s mouth and leads to rashes in the area around the legs, feet, buttocks, or hands. Children below five years old are most likely to be afflicted by HFMD, even though anyone is susceptible to it.
While it is not a serious cause of concern if someone is infected, it is imperative to get it diagnosed in time so you can help alleviate the patient’s pain. While there is no vaccine or cure for HFMD, it goes away on its own in seven to ten days.
How Long After Fever Does HFMD Appear?
If you witness the symptoms like fever and loss of appetite in your child, they have likely contracted HFMD. Sore throat and painful mouth sores, which develop into blisters, are also common reasons for HFMD. Pain while swallowing food and rashes on the skin are also some primary causes of HFMD. When these symptoms are mild, you have no cause for worry and can wait out the seven to ten days period at home. However, if the symptoms are severe, do not recede after ten days, or if your child is less than six months old, you must consult a physician. Very rarely, complications may arise from your child having HFMD. Loss of fluids is possible if the child is not drinking enough water due to pain while swallowing. Viral meningitis, encephalitis, and paralysis can also occur.
However, these complications are infrequent, and most children recover from HFMD within the stated time period. Pregnant women are advised to meet with their doctors if exposed to someone infected with the disease. While the probability of any complication arising is very low, it is best to err on the side of caution.
| Symptoms | Time After Symptoms For HFMD |
| Fever and Sore throat | Three days |
| Blisters on skin and mouth | One day |
If a person suffers from a sore throat or fever, then HFMD is most likely to occur after three days. In contrast, blisters on the skin and mouth take place two days after the fever, and one day later, symptoms of HFMD occur.
Why Does It Take That Long After Fever For HFMD To Appear?
HFMD is primarily spread in three ways. The first one is by Person to person contact such as hugging, sharing utensils, and a few others. Secretions from the nose and throat of an infected person, transmitted by air or touching mucus, is another way of contracting HFMD. HFMD also occurs because of contact with contaminated objects or places like touching toys, cribs, and things that might have the virus on them, and then transferring it via touch to your eyes, nose, or mouth. Touching the infected person may also lead to HFMD.
Even if a person does not display any symptoms or has just recovered from HFMD, they can still be carriers of this infection. HFMD spreads faster than usual in the months of summer and fall. While a child is displaying symptoms of HFMD, they should stay at home. Daycares and schools can easily become superspreaders if the infected child attends classes while sick.
It takes that long after fever for HFMD to appear because the body tries to fight the disease in fever. But if the immune system can’t stop the spread, HFMD occurs. It would help if you regularly disinfected touched objects like doorknobs and toys to prevent transmission. Even though it may be hard, avoid close contact like hugging and living with the infected person.
Conclusion
Overall, it can be concluded that many people confuse this disease with the Foot and Mouth disease of animals. The latter is a viral infection that can be contracted only by cows, sheep, and pigs. HFMD is only contagious among humans. If your child is infected, you must inform the child’s daycare.
On average, HFMD appears three days after fever. HFMD is not a disease that requires great precaution except what anyone might already practice if they maintain good hygiene. HFMD spreads faster than usual in the months of summer and fall. While a child is displaying symptoms of HFMD, they should stay at home.
References
- https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6112a5.htm
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1473309913703426
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It would be nice if there was a vaccine for HFMD, especially for little kids who don’t understand how to prevent the spread of germs.
I agree, it would be much safer and easier to handle.
The implications are scary, but it’s good to be informed. I’m grateful for how informative and candid this article is.
Agreed, it’s such a comprehensive and helpful piece.
How fascinating that HFMD is spread in so many ways and that even those recovered from it can still be carriers of the infection.
The transmission is definitely intriguing – and important to know!
I had no idea that HFMD was so prevalent and that it affected people of all ages. How interesting!
It is interesting to see the comparison to animal foot and mouth disease, too!
This is not as serious as I thought. I feel more at ease, now.
I wish more people knew about how easily it spreads – we could reduce cases if everyone was more cautious!
Definitely – the more awareness, the better.
I feel so much more relieved now that I know when to expect symptoms to appear. I was worried it would be very sudden.
Definitely – it’s good to know what to expect.
This is so much easier to understand than what many sources describe. Very clear. Thank you!
Agreed – it’s hard to find straightforward explanations like this.
It’s great that HFMD goes away on its own, but the complications are still scary to consider.
That’s so true. It’s something that needs to be taken seriously.
I feel more informed after reading this article. Thanks for the information!
Very informative and clear, I appreciate your insights.
This topic is essential for parents to understand – it spreads so quickly among kids.
I can’t believe that HFMD is often confused with the animal foot and mouth disease! That’s such a neat comparison.
It’s really interesting – it was new information to me, too.