Hand, foot and mouth ulcers are generally attributed to hand, foot and mouth disease, a common but mild condition that typically affects young children in summer, reports DermNet NZ. Symptoms of HFMD usually begin with throat soreness followed by a fever and the development of blisters on the hands, feet and inside the mouth. The blisters can burst, leaving ulcers.
Coxsackievirus A16
Coxsackievirus A16, a member of the enterovirus family, is the most common cause of HFMD, reports the National Institutes of Health. The disease is easily spread from person to person via bodily fluids including mucus, saliva, blister fluid and stools. During the first week of the disease, the person is most contagious. Symptoms of the infection appear about three to seven days after the virus enters the body. Because the disease is caused by a virus, no specific treatment is offered besides pain-relieving medicines and salt water mouth rinses.
Herpangina
Herpangina is another viral illness often caused by the coxsackie group A viruses. It typically begins with sores and ulcers inside the mouth, sore throat and a fever. The National Institutes of Health suggests similar ulcers appear on the feet, hands and buttocks. Other symptoms include headache, loss of appetite and pain when swallowing. LIke HFMD, herpangina is common in children ages 3 to 10, but it can affect any age group.
Other Enteroviruses
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that HFMD can sometimes be caused by enterovirus 71 or other enteroviruses. The symptoms of this illness are typically the same, regardless of which enterovirus is responsible. In rare cases, the infection can lead to serious complications. This includes viral meningitis, encephalitis or paralysis similar to that caused by polio. Signs the infection is becoming serious include a stiff neck and back pain.
