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Tests and diagnosis
Your doctor will likely be able to distinguish hand-foot-and-mouth disease from other types of viral infections by evaluating:
- The age of the affected person
- The pattern of signs and symptoms
- The appearance of the rash or sores
A throat swab or stool specimen may be taken and sent to the laboratory to determine which virus caused the illness. However, your doctor probably won't need this type of testing to diagnose hand-foot-and-mouth disease.
- Hand, foot, & mouth disease (HFMD). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/hfhf.htm. Accessed June 22, 2009.
- Enteroviruses - non polio. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs174/en/print.html. Accessed June 22, 2009.
- Hand, foot and mouth disease. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/hand_foot_mouth_disease.html. Accessed June 22, 2009.
- Non-polio enterovirus infections. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/non-polio_entero.htm. Accessed June 26, 2009.
