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Medical Author:

David Perlstein, MD, MBA, FAAP

David Perlstein, MD, MBA, FAAP

Dr. Perlstein received his Medical Degree from the University of Cincinnati and then completed his internship and residency in pediatrics at The New York Hospital, Cornell medical Center in New York City. After serving an additional year as Chief Pediatric Resident, he worked as a private practitioner and then was appointed Director of Ambulatory Pediatrics at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Hand, foot, and mouth disease can be confused with other viral causes of oral ulcers and blisters. Herpetic gingivostomatitis and herpangina are the conditions most commonly confused with hand, foot, and mouth disease. Differentiation is usually based on the fever history, the presence and appearance of the rash, and the location of the oral ulcers. Herpangina is caused by a number of different viruses and differs from hand, foot, and mouth disease in that the oral ulcers generally affect the posterior pharynx (back of the throat, uvula, tonsils, and posterior palate) and spare the anterior pharynx (gingiva, inner lips, cheeks, tongue), and the rash, if present, does not affect the palms and soles. Herpetic gingivostomatitis caused by HSV1 generally affects the anterior pharynx but is not associated with a rash on the palms and soles. Lastly, both herpangina and herpetic gingivostomatitis are associated with high fever, while hand, foot, and mouth disease generally is associated with a low-grade fever. If you are concerned, consult your health-care provider, since the management of the three illnesses differs slightly.

Must Read Articles Related to Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Coxsackievirus Coxsackievirus infection is spread from person to person when an infected person does not cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing or touches someone with un...learn more >>

Fever in Children Fever is defined as a rectal temperature over 100.4 F or 38.0 C. Fever isn't life-threatening unless it is persistently high -- greater than 107 F rectal temper...learn more >>

Rash A rash is a visible skin outbreak. Examples of noninfectious rashes include eczema, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea, hives, and al...learn more >>

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