Fever is often the first sign of hand-foot-and-mouth disease, followed by a sore throat and sometimes a poor appetite and malaise. One or two days after the fever begins, painful sores may develop in the mouth or throat. A rash on the hands and feet and possibly on the buttocks can follow within one or two days. Try these tips to help make blister soreness less bothersome and eating and drinking more tolerable: Suck on ice pops or ice chips. Eat ice cream or sherbet. Drink cold beverages, such as milk or ice water. Avoid acidic foods and beverages, such as citrus fruits, fruit drinks and soda. Avoid salty or spicy foods. The possibility of your children having contracted the disease can t be rules out. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is caused by a virus called an enterovirus. The virus spreads easily through coughing and sneezing. It can also spread through infected stool, such as when you change a diaper or when a young child gets stool on his or her hands and then touches objects that other children put in their mouths. Often the disease breaks out within a community. It usually takes 3 to 6 days for a person to get symptoms of hand-foot-and-mouth disease after being exposed to the virus. This is called the incubation period. Hand-foot-and-mouth disease usually doesn t need treatment. You can use home care to help relieve your child s symptoms. Offer your child plenty of cool fluids to help with sore throat. Cold foods such as flavored ice pops and ice cream also may help. Don t give your child acidic or spicy foods and drinks, such as salsa or orange juice. These foods can make mouth sores more painful. For pain and fever, give your child acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil). Do not give your child aspirin. It has been linked to Reye syndrome, a serious illness. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Children are most likely to spread the disease during the first week of the illness. But the virus can stay in the stool for several months and may spread to others. To help prevent the disease from spreading: If your child goes to day care or school, talk to the staff about when your child can return. Wash your hands frequently. It is especially important to wash your hands after you touch a blister or change the diaper of an infected child. Teach all family members to wash their hands often. It is especially important to wash your hands after you change the diaper of an infected child. Don t let your child share toys or give kisses while he or she is infected. Hope that helped.