Does everybody around your child seem to have sores in the mouth?  More on the hands and feet?  It sounds like they could be suffering from hand, foot and mouth disease. Believe it or not, that is actually the name of a common childhood illness.  It’s caused by the Coxackie virus, and is very easily spread in places where lots of children play together.   Since HFM is super-contagious and there is no vaccine against the virus at this time, good hand washing is your best defense against picking up the germ.   It’s also a good idea not to send your child to school if she has the virus until any fever associated with it has passed and he’s taking food again.     If your child becomes irritable and doesn’t want to eat or drink, it’s time to see your pediatrician.   Read more to learn how you get hand, foot and mouth as well as how to treat it, and how to avoid passing it along to another person.