Diseases and Conditions

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease

Diagnosis

Your doctor will likely be able to distinguish hand-foot-and-mouth disease from other types of viral infections by evaluating:

  • The age of the affected person
  • The pattern of signs and symptoms
  • The appearance of the rash or sores

Your doctor may take a throat swab or stool specimen and send it to the laboratory to determine which virus caused the illness.