What Is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease?

Prevention magazine’s article on hand, foot and mouth disease quoted Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases. “Hand, foot, and mouth disease is primarily a disease in children, but adults can get it if they’ve never been exposed before,” says Russo. “It’s very infectious.” Typically, adults who get hand, foot, and mouth disease have close interactions with kids, Russo says. “They may be daycare workers or parents caring for infected children,” he says.