A fever and sore throat are usually the first symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease. The characteristic blisters and rashes show up later, usually one or two days after the fever begins. Hand, foot, and mouth disease is often caused by a strain of coxsackievirus, most commonly coxsackievirus A16. The coxsackievirus is part of a group of viruses called Enteroviruses. In some cases, other types of Enteroviruses can cause hand, foot, and mouth disease. Viruses can be easily spread from person-to-person.