How do symptoms of chicken pox and hand, foot & mouth disease differ. What are the best treatments for these viral infections. Can these conditions lead to serious complications.

Understanding Chicken Pox and Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease

Viral infections like chicken pox and hand, foot & mouth disease are common among children, particularly in nursery settings where illnesses spread easily. While these conditions share some similarities, they are caused by different viruses and have distinct characteristics.

What Causes These Viral Infections?

Chicken pox is caused by the varicella zoster virus, while hand, foot & mouth disease is typically caused by viruses from the enterovirus genus, most commonly the coxsackievirus. Both are highly contagious and can spread through close contact, respiratory droplets, and contaminated surfaces.

Who is Most at Risk?

Children under 10 are most susceptible to chicken pox, although it can affect individuals of any age. Hand, foot & mouth disease is also more common in children but can occur in adults as well. In both cases, those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for more severe infections.

Recognizing the Symptoms: Chicken Pox vs Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease

Distinguishing between chicken pox and hand, foot & mouth disease can be challenging, especially in milder cases. However, there are some key differences in their symptom presentation.

Chicken Pox Symptoms

• Widespread rash of red spots that turn into fluid-filled blisters
• Fever
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue

Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease Symptoms

• Sore throat
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Spots and blisters primarily on hands, feet, and in the mouth
• Stomach pain

Are there any telltale signs to differentiate these conditions? The location of the rash or blisters is often a key indicator. In hand, foot & mouth disease, lesions are typically concentrated on the hands, feet, and in the mouth. Chicken pox rash, on the other hand, tends to spread across the entire body.

Treatment Approaches for Chicken Pox and Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease

Both conditions are viral infections that generally resolve on their own with supportive care. However, specific treatment strategies can help manage symptoms and prevent complications.

Managing Chicken Pox Symptoms

1. Administer paracetamol for fever and pain relief
2. Apply calamine lotion to soothe itchy skin
3. Encourage fluid intake to prevent dehydration
4. Use mittens or trim nails to prevent scratching
5. Avoid ibuprofen, as it can lead to serious complications

Treating Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease

1. Provide pain relief with paracetamol or ibuprofen
2. Use teething gel for mouth ulcers in infants
3. Offer cold, soft foods to soothe mouth discomfort
4. Apply topical creams like Virasoothe for skin irritation
5. Ensure adequate hydration

When should you seek medical attention for these conditions? Consult a healthcare provider if symptoms worsen, fever persists, or signs of dehydration develop. Additionally, seek immediate care if your child shows signs of severe complications such as difficulty breathing or extreme lethargy.

Potential Complications of Chicken Pox and Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease

While most cases of these viral infections resolve without incident, awareness of potential complications is crucial for early intervention.

Chicken Pox Complications

• Bacterial skin infections
• Pneumonia
• Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
• Reye’s syndrome (rare but serious condition affecting the liver and brain)

Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease Complications

• Dehydration
• Viral meningitis
• Encephalitis (rare)
• Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle, uncommon)

How can these complications be prevented? Proper hygiene, isolation of infected individuals, and prompt treatment of symptoms can significantly reduce the risk of complications. In the case of chicken pox, vaccination is an effective preventive measure.

Prevention Strategies for Chicken Pox and Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease

Preventing the spread of these highly contagious infections requires a multi-faceted approach.

Chicken Pox Prevention

• Vaccination (available but not routinely offered on the NHS in the UK)
• Isolation of infected individuals until lesions crust over
• Proper hand hygiene
• Avoiding sharing personal items

Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease Prevention

• Regular hand washing, especially after diaper changes
• Disinfecting contaminated surfaces
• Avoiding close contact with infected individuals
• Proper disposal of tissues and diapers

Is vaccination an option for both conditions? While a vaccine is available for chicken pox, there is currently no vaccine for hand, foot & mouth disease. However, maintaining good hygiene practices can significantly reduce the risk of both infections.

Long-term Effects and Immunity

Understanding the long-term implications of these viral infections is important for overall health management.

Chicken Pox Long-term Effects

After recovering from chicken pox, the virus remains dormant in nerve tissues and can reactivate later in life as shingles. This risk underscores the importance of considering vaccination, especially for adults who never had chicken pox as children.

Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease Long-term Effects

Hand, foot & mouth disease typically does not have long-term effects. However, in rare cases, it can lead to complications such as viral meningitis or encephalitis, which may have lasting neurological impacts.

Does having these infections confer lifelong immunity? Chicken pox usually provides lifelong immunity, although reinfection is possible in rare cases. Hand, foot & mouth disease, on the other hand, does not always confer long-lasting immunity, as multiple strains of the virus exist.

Special Considerations for High-Risk Groups

Certain populations require extra precautions and care when it comes to these viral infections.

Pregnant Women and Chicken Pox

Chicken pox during pregnancy can pose serious risks to both the mother and the developing fetus. Complications may include pneumonia in the mother and birth defects in the baby. Pregnant women who have never had chicken pox should avoid contact with infected individuals and consult their healthcare provider about potential preventive measures.

Immunocompromised Individuals

People with weakened immune systems, such as those undergoing chemotherapy or living with HIV/AIDS, are at higher risk for severe complications from both chicken pox and hand, foot & mouth disease. These individuals should take extra precautions to avoid exposure and seek prompt medical attention if symptoms develop.

How can high-risk individuals protect themselves? Vaccination (for chicken pox), strict hygiene practices, and avoiding contact with infected persons are crucial protective measures. In some cases, preventive medications may be recommended by healthcare providers.

The Role of Public Health Measures

Public health initiatives play a crucial role in managing and preventing outbreaks of chicken pox and hand, foot & mouth disease.

School and Daycare Policies

Many educational institutions have specific guidelines for managing these infections. These may include:

• Exclusion periods for infected children
• Notification requirements for parents and staff
• Enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols
• Education on prevention and symptom recognition

Community Awareness and Education

Public health campaigns aimed at raising awareness about these conditions can significantly impact their spread and management. Key focuses often include:

• Proper hand hygiene techniques
• Recognition of early symptoms
• Importance of vaccination (for chicken pox)
• When to seek medical attention

How effective are these public health measures? Studies have shown that comprehensive public health strategies can significantly reduce the incidence and severity of outbreaks, particularly in closed communities like schools and daycare centers.

Emerging Research and Future Perspectives

Ongoing research continues to shape our understanding and management of chicken pox and hand, foot & mouth disease.

Advances in Treatment

While current treatments focus primarily on symptom management, researchers are exploring new antiviral therapies that could potentially shorten the duration and severity of these infections. Additionally, there’s growing interest in developing more effective topical treatments to alleviate skin discomfort and prevent secondary bacterial infections.

Vaccine Development

The success of the chicken pox vaccine has led to a significant reduction in cases and complications. Researchers are now working on developing a vaccine for hand, foot & mouth disease, with several candidates in various stages of clinical trials. If successful, this could dramatically reduce the global burden of this common childhood illness.

Genetic Susceptibility Studies

Emerging research is investigating genetic factors that may influence susceptibility to severe forms of these infections. Understanding these genetic predispositions could lead to more personalized prevention and treatment strategies in the future.

What potential breakthroughs are on the horizon? While it’s difficult to predict with certainty, advancements in immunology and virology hold promise for improved vaccines, targeted therapies, and possibly even methods to prevent the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus as shingles in later life.

As our understanding of these common viral infections continues to evolve, so too will our strategies for prevention, treatment, and management. Staying informed about the latest research and recommendations is crucial for healthcare providers, parents, and individuals alike in effectively navigating these childhood illnesses.

What is the difference between hand, foot and mouth disease and chickenpox?

Nurseries make natural places for coughs, colds and other viruses to spread easily between children. Illnesses such as chickenpox and hand, foot and mouth disease are common viral infections and have similar symptoms – so how can you tell the difference between them?

What’s the difference between hand, foot and mouth disease and chickenpox?

What is hand, foot and mouth disease?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a highly contagious infection that is common in children but can also affect adults. It’s caused by viruses from the enterovirus genus – viruses that cause a number of infectious illnesses which are usually mild – most commonly the coxsackievirus. It spreads via coughs, sneezes, poo and the fluid filled in the blisters.

What is chickenpox?

Chickenpox is a common infection caused by the varicella zoster virus. You can catch it by being in the same room as someone with it, but it is also spread by touching things that have fluid from the blisters on them. Children under ten are most likely to catch chickenpox, but you can be affected at any age.

Hand, foot and mouth vs chickenpox

It can be very difficult to know whether someone has hand, foot and mouth or chickenpox; especially if they have milder forms of chickenpox. Essentially it may be based on who you have been in contact with and what the outbreak is to know for sure – but usually it is a best guess. Both illnesses can be treated similarly – stay away from people until all the lesions are crusted over – which is usually at about five to six days.

Why isn’t the chickenpox vaccine available on the NHS?

Chickenpox is sometimes seen as a necessary part of childhood. However, whilst the condition is …

What are the symptoms of chickenpox vs. hand foot and mouth disease, how to treat it and the complications.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease symptoms

The first signs of hand, foot and mouth disease are a sore throat, fever, loss of appetite, stomach aches, or flu-like symptoms such as aching limbs.

After a few days, spots, blisters, mouth ulcers or a rash will appear. Often these sores appear on the hands, feet, on the face and in the mouth, but they can appear elsewhere too. They can be painful or itchy and will eventually crust over.

In hand, foot and mouth disease, the spots are mostly confined to the hands, feet and face. However, the rash caused by chickenpox often spreads across the body. Your child will remain infectious until all the spots have crusted over.

How to treat hand, foot and mouth disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease can usually be managed at home. Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and if they have a high temperature, calpol can help.

Teething gels can help soothe mouth ulcers in babies. Topical gels and creams such as Virasoothe and calamine lotion can help soothe itchy rashes. Cold foods like yoghurts can help painful mouth ulcers. However, if your child becomes more unwell, contact your GP or 111 for advice.

Can hand, foot and mouth cause complications?

Dehydration can occur because blisters in your mouth can make drinking hurt. If the blisters become infected, your child may need antibiotics.

In rare cases, people with hand, foot, and mouth disease get viral meningitis – inflammation of the lining around your brain and spinal cord – or encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain¹. Another virus called enterovirus 71 can occasionally cause a more severe form of hand, foot and mouth disease, but it is uncommon in the UK².

Chickenpox symptoms

Chickenpox causes a rash, which consists of flat or slightly raised red spots. These gradually turn into blisters. Chickenpox can also cause a high temperature, aches and pains, headache, sore throat and a loss of appetite.

How to treat chickenpox

Most of the time, liquid paracetamol, rest and time is the only way to get a child through a bout of illness. If a young child has chickenpox, you’ll usually be able to manage the symptoms at home, without seeking medical help.

It’s important to drink enough fluids and to avoid scratching the spots, as they can become infected. Wearing smooth, cotton fabrics can help and young children might benefit from wearing mittens overnight to reduce scratching.

Paracetamol can help relieve pain and fever in children. In adults, painkillers such as paracetamol can also help. The antihistamine chlorphenamine – often sold as Piriton – can help relieve itching in adults. However, they’re not suitable for children under the age of one.

Ibuprofen should never be given during a bout of chickenpox as there can be very serious complications. If the fever is not going down using simple measures or with paracetamol, contact your doctor or 111.

Can chickenpox cause complications?

Chickenpox spots can become infected from scratching. Signs include a high temperature and redness and pain around the spots. It’s important to seek urgent medical help if you or your child develop these symptoms. Chickenpox can be more serious in adults, newborns, those who are pregnant, the elderly and in people who have a weakened immune system.

If you’ve had chickenpox, the virus will stay in your body for the rest of your life, which can provide you with immunity. Sometimes, however, the virus can ‘wake up’ and trigger shingles, an infection that causes a painful rash. You can catch chickenpox from someone with shingles if you haven’t already had chickenpox, but not the other way round.

Rare complications of chickenpox can include pneumonia (lung infection), hepatitis (liver infection) and encephalitis³.

If a fever lasts more than five days, this can indicate a bacterial infection or other complications to do with chicken pox and people should be seen at their nearest emergency department.

Further reading

1. Guerra et al: Hand, foot and mouth disease

2. Nayak et al: Global emergence of Enterovirus 71: A systematic review.

3. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: Chickenpox: What are the complications?

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease: Symptoms and Treatment

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  • Hand, foot and mouth disease. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary. cks.nice.org.uk, last updated November 2015
  • Hand-foot-and-mouth disease. BMJ Best Practice. bestpractice.bmj.com, last reviewed September 2020
  • Oxford Handbook of General Practice (5th edition) Oxford Medicine Online. oxfordmedicine.com, published June 2020
  • Dentinox teething gel. Electronic Medicines Compendium. medicines.org.uk, last updated September 2018
  • Hand, foot and mouth disease. Patient patient.info, last updated July 2015
  • Benzydamine hydrochloride. Nice British National Formulary for Children. bnfc.nice.org.uk, accessed October 2020
  • Choline salicylate. Nice British National Formulary for Children. bnfc.nice.org.uk, accessed October 2020
  • Chickenpox. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary. cks.nice.org.uk, last updated August 2018
  • Hand, foot, and mouth disease. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. cdc.gov, last reviewed July 2015
  • Factsheet on hand, foot and mouth. Public Health England. nationalarchives.gov.uk, last reviewed August 2013

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  Reviewed by Liz Woolf, Freelance Health Editor and Marcella McEvoy, Health Content Team, November 2020
  Expert reviewer, Dr Adrian Raby, General Practitioner
  Next review due November 2023

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Any information about a treatment or procedure is generic, and does not necessarily describe that treatment or procedure as delivered by Bupa or its associated providers.

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