If you are in need of Nationwide Hand, Foot, & Mouth Disease Cleaning services, call our hotline at 1-888-752-5001 for 24/7 assistance.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (Coxsackie Viral Infection) is a relatively common disease, usually of early childhood. While it isn’t often terribly dangerous, it is highly contagious. Read on to learn more about hand, foot, and mouth disease, and why professional cleaning is needed for affected areas.

What Is Hand, Foot, And Mouth Disease?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by a virus. It is sometimes confused with foot-and-mouth disease (also called hoof-and-mouth disease), which affects sheep, cows, and pigs, but does not affect humans. Symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease often include ulcers inside or around the mouth, and a rash on the feet, hands, legs, or buttocks.

Who Is Most Prone To Getting It?

While anyone can contract HFMD, it’s most common in children under the age of 10 because of its ability to spread rapidly throughout elementary schools and childcare centers. Typically, the illness does not cause any serious complications, but it can be quite unpleasant for small children.

The Symptoms

Early in the progression of the illness, symptoms include fever and a sore throat. Painful blisters that look similar to cold sores can show up on the tongue or inside of the mouth, normally towards the back of the mouth. Often, a doctor can diagnose HFMD simply by looking at the sores or rash in a patient, though it can be more accurately diagnosed with a throat swab or a blood sample.

Once the disease is diagnosed, it usually clears up on its own within 7 to 10 days. Keep any areas with blisters or rashes clean and uncovered, and if any blisters pop, apply antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. There is no cure and no vaccine, but over-the-counter pain relievers can help with any discomfort.

In addition, cold food and drinks like popsicles and ice cream can help to soothe the painful sores inside the mouth. Hot, acidic, or spicy foods and drinks should be avoided, as they may irritate the mouth. Look for pain-relieving sprays or mouthwashes as well.

Dehydration can be one of the most common complications, as children often do not want to drink liquids when their mouth and throat hurt. Watch for sluggishness, pale skin, or worsening symptoms, and see a doctor if you even just suspect dehydration.

How Do You Contract It?

One of two viruses is usually the root cause of hand, foot, and mouth disease. These viruses are called coxsackievirus a16 and enterovirus 71. Sometimes doctors refer to the disease as the coxsackievirus.

It’s very easy to pass these viruses from one person to another. All it takes to contract the virus is being exposed to something that’s been in contact with the virus, like a doorknob, desk, or a toy. It most often spreads more easily in the summer and fall. This is why hand, foot, and mouth disease cleaning is so vital in containing the spread.

As opposed to other sicknesses that can spread in ways involving less direct contact, this has less of a threat of a worldwide epidemic such as SARS or the Coronavirus.

Because of how contagious it is, it spreads quite rapidly in daycare centers or classrooms. To prevent HFMD from spreading, it’s best to keep kids home from school or daycare when they have a fever or if they have open blisters on their skin and mouth. Hand washing can also prevent the spread of the disease.

If you suspect you’ve come into contact with the disease, wash your hands right away. If you can’t wash your hands, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol can also help kill the virus. Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes.

Is Professional Cleaning Necessary?

People with HFMD are most contagious within the first 7 days after contracting it, but the virus can stay in your body for days or even weeks after symptoms go away. It can easily spread through bodily fluids like spit, snot, and feces which makes it particularly challenging to contain an outbreak among kids, who sometimes forget to wash their hands.

While children should be free of fever and other symptoms before returning to school or daycare, this often isn’t an option for many parents who have to return to work and can’t secure other childcare, which means that the virus will continue to spread. The virus can live on surfaces and objects for at least a few days. Daycare centers and schools often struggle to contain the disease.

So if you’re dealing with the coxsackie virus, what can you do to stop the spread of this illness? Hand, foot, and mouth disease cleaning is always highly encouraged when it comes to stopping the spread of any illness.

But because hand, foot, and mouth disease can live on surfaces for days, it can be tough to clean effectively. And because schools and daycare centers have so many hard-to-reach surfaces, it may be difficult for regular janitorial workers to remove the virus all the way.

Certified Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Cleaning

The most effective cleaning option is always a thorough and professional cleaning. A professional cleaning company, such as Bio Recovery, treats hand, foot, and mouth disease as they would any other infectious disease, and follow procedures accordingly.

Infectious diseases are biohazards and require special methods for cleaning, not just simply wiping down surfaces. It’s important to make sure that every surface that came into contact with the virus is sanitized, including bathrooms, play areas, tables, desks, and individual toys.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease cleaning is a difficult task, so if you are dealing with this issue, it’s a good idea to contact a certified company. Bio Recovery specializes in decontaminating buildings and can help with homes, schools, daycares, etc. Our certified technicians use specialized equipment to make sure that the area you’re looking to have decontaminated is cleaned effectively.

Bio Recovery is a leading biohazard and crime scene cleanup company, specializing in cleaning up hazardous materials after accidents or crimes. This experience means that we are also the best in the business when it comes to sanitizing areas after an outbreak of infectious disease. Know that our professional team will handle your cleanup swiftly, discreetly, and professionally.

Though it generally is not a deadly serious illness, hand, foot, and mouth disease is still extremely contagious and can sicken dozens or even hundreds of children within a short period of time. If you suspect an outbreak of this disease, contact us for more information about the services we offer, including our infectious disease cleanup services.

Our hotline is open 24 hours a day, so if you need immediate assistance, call 1-888-752-5001 for nationwide hand, foot, and mouth cleaning services.