Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease With Eczema: What Families Should Know
A child's eczema can make it harder to interpret a new rash during a busy school or sports week. Hand, foot and mouth disease is a contagious viral illness; in some children, its rash can become especially noticeable in areas affected by eczema.
What is eczema coxsackium?
In a 2013 case series of 80 children seen at seven pediatric dermatology centers for unusual hand, foot and mouth presentations, 55% had a rash accentuated in areas of eczema. Researchers called that pattern “eczema coxsackium.” These were selected children with atypical illness, so the percentage is not the risk for every child with eczema.
Other conditions—including eczema herpeticum—can resemble it and may require urgent care. Contact your child's clinician promptly for rapidly spreading blisters, significant pain or a child who seems unwell. Do not diagnose from pictures.
| Situation | What to consider |
|---|---|
| Common HFMD symptoms | Fever, mouth sores and a rash can occur; symptoms vary. |
| Drinking is difficult | Contact the pediatrician if you are concerned about dehydration or your child cannot drink well. |
| School return | CDC says children may return when they have no fever, feel well enough to participate and have no uncontrolled drooling from mouth sores; follow local rules and the clinician's advice. |
| Shared sports | Ask the clinician and coach about return to close-contact play, hygiene and local requirements. |
Keep the care plan individual
Wash hands well, avoid sharing personal items and follow the clinician's instructions for infected or broken skin. Moisturizer does not treat the virus. The warning signs of eczema herpeticum and our school-day care-plan questions provide more context.
Dr. Arsy Hydration Recovery Moisturizer #003 is a fragrance-free moisturizer for dry, sensitive and eczema-prone skin. Follow the label and your clinician's advice; it does not diagnose or treat an infection, allergy or another medical condition.
Sources and further reading
- Mathes et al.: Eczema coxsackium and an enterovirus outbreak; PubMed.
- CDC: Hand, foot and mouth disease.
- CDC: Symptoms and when to contact a healthcare provider.
Educational information from Dr. Arsy, not individual medical advice. Cited organizations and researchers do not endorse this product.