Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease: Causes, Symptoms & Transmission

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is not caused by bacteria but by viruses. Specifically, it is caused by several strains of the coxsackievirus, which is a type of enterovirus. These viruses enter the body through the mouth or respiratory tract and then multiply in the gastrointestinal tract and throat. The infection typically spreads through close contact with someone who is already infected, often through bodily fluids like saliva or fluid from blisters on the hands and feet.