BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuHerpanginaHerpangina is a viral illness that involves ulcers and sores (lesions) inside the mouth, a sore throat, and fever.Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a related topic.Hand, foot, and mouth diseaseHand-foot-mouth disease is a common viral infection that most often begins in the throat.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Herpangina is a common childhood infection. It is most often seen in children ages 3 to 10, but it can occur in any age group.It is most often caused by Coxsackie group A viruses. These viruses are contagious. Your child is at risk for herpangina if someone at school or home has the illness. Symptoms Symptoms may include:Fever FeverFever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Headache Loss of appetite Sore throat, or painful swallowing Ulcers in the mouth and throat, and similar sores on the feet, hands, and buttocks UlcersAn ulcer is a crater-like sore on the skin or mucous membrane. Ulcers form when the top layers of skin or tissue have been removed. They can occur ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The ulcers most often have a white to whitish-gray base and a red border. They may be very painful. In most cases, there are only a few sores. Exams and Tests Tests are not normally necessary. Your health care provider can most often diagnose this condition by doing a physical exam and asking questions about the child's symptoms and medical history. Treatment The symptoms are treated as necessary:Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin) by mouth for fever and discomfort as the provider recommends. Increase fluid intake, especially cold milk products. Gargle with cool water or try eating fruit-flavored ice pops. Avoid hot beverages and citrus fruits. Eat a non-irritating diet. (Cold milk products, including ice cream, are often the best choices during herpangina infection. Fruit juices are too acidic and tend to irritate the mouth sores.) Avoid spicy, fried, or hot foods. Use topical anesthetics for the mouth (these may contain benzocaine or xylocaine and are usually not required). Outlook (Prognosis) The illness normally clears up within a week. Possible Complications Dehydration is the most common complication, but it can be treated by your provider. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if:Fever, sore throat, or mouth sores last for more than 5 days Your child is having trouble drinking liquids or looks dehydrated DehydratedDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fever becomes very high or does not go away Prevention Good handwashing can help prevent the spread of the viruses that lead to this infection.Open ReferencesReferencesJames WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM. Viral diseases. In: James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM, eds. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 19.Messacar K, Abzug MJ. Nonpolio enteroviruses. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 277.Romero JR. Coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, and numbered enteroviruses (EV-A71, EVD-68, EVD-70). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 172.AllVideoImagesTogThroat anatomy - illustration Structures of the throat include the esophagus, trachea, epiglottis and tonsils.Throat anatomyillustrationMouth anatomy - illustration The mouth is the origination of the digestive tract. The teeth and salivary glands aid in breaking down food for digestion. The tonsils aid against infections.Mouth anatomyillustrationThroat anatomy - illustration Structures of the throat include the esophagus, trachea, epiglottis and tonsils.Throat anatomyillustrationMouth anatomy - illustration The mouth is the origination of the digestive tract. The teeth and salivary glands aid in breaking down food for digestion. The tonsils aid against infections.Mouth anatomyillustrationRelated Information Hand-foot-mouth disease(Condition)Ulcers(Symptoms) Review Date: 8/5/2023 Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. 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HerpanginaHerpangina is a viral illness that involves ulcers and sores (lesions) inside the mouth, a sore throat, and fever.Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a related topic.Hand, foot, and mouth diseaseHand-foot-mouth disease is a common viral infection that most often begins in the throat.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Herpangina is a common childhood infection. It is most often seen in children ages 3 to 10, but it can occur in any age group.It is most often caused by Coxsackie group A viruses. These viruses are contagious. Your child is at risk for herpangina if someone at school or home has the illness. Symptoms Symptoms may include:Fever FeverFever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Headache Loss of appetite Sore throat, or painful swallowing Ulcers in the mouth and throat, and similar sores on the feet, hands, and buttocks UlcersAn ulcer is a crater-like sore on the skin or mucous membrane. Ulcers form when the top layers of skin or tissue have been removed. They can occur ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The ulcers most often have a white to whitish-gray base and a red border. They may be very painful. In most cases, there are only a few sores. Exams and Tests Tests are not normally necessary. Your health care provider can most often diagnose this condition by doing a physical exam and asking questions about the child's symptoms and medical history. Treatment The symptoms are treated as necessary:Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin) by mouth for fever and discomfort as the provider recommends. Increase fluid intake, especially cold milk products. Gargle with cool water or try eating fruit-flavored ice pops. Avoid hot beverages and citrus fruits. Eat a non-irritating diet. (Cold milk products, including ice cream, are often the best choices during herpangina infection. Fruit juices are too acidic and tend to irritate the mouth sores.) Avoid spicy, fried, or hot foods. Use topical anesthetics for the mouth (these may contain benzocaine or xylocaine and are usually not required). Outlook (Prognosis) The illness normally clears up within a week. Possible Complications Dehydration is the most common complication, but it can be treated by your provider. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if:Fever, sore throat, or mouth sores last for more than 5 days Your child is having trouble drinking liquids or looks dehydrated DehydratedDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fever becomes very high or does not go away Prevention Good handwashing can help prevent the spread of the viruses that lead to this infection.Open ReferencesReferencesJames WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM. Viral diseases. In: James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM, eds. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 19.Messacar K, Abzug MJ. Nonpolio enteroviruses. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 277.Romero JR. Coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, and numbered enteroviruses (EV-A71, EVD-68, EVD-70). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 172.