Hand, foot and mouth disease in an immunocompetent adult due to Coxsackievirus A6

Abstract

Hand, foot and mouth disease most commonly occurs in children less than 10 years old, but can occur in immunocompetent adults. We describe a 37-year-old immunocompetent man who presented with multiple painful papules and vesicles on his palms and feet together with vesicles inside the mouth. Real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed Coxsackievirus A6 in the vesicle fluid from the feet, throat swab, and rectal swab. Since the disease is highly contagious, to contain the infection it is prudent to recognise that hand, foot and mouth disease can occur in immunocompetent adults.