How does hand foot and mouth disease effect a 5 1/2 year old?

Viral: Hand/foot/mouth is a viral disease (not to be confused w foot & mouth disease) requiring palliative care. The only cure is tincture of time. Make child comfortable. Consider cool liquids, gentle but thorough oral hygiene, and perhaps otc analgesics. It's contagious, so wear gloves and/or wash hands often.

Fever/spots/pain: Hfm varies more in intensity than anything. Some kids can have it & run a brief temperature & never show other symptoms. Some have fever, localized spots on their wrists & nothing else. Some have terrible mouth sores, spots on wrists/forearms/legs feet & around the bottom & have cramping & loose stools. So fever, loose stools & cramps, amount & location of blisters seem to be the main variables.

Short term, mild: Child of that age should not have too many symptoms and they should not last too long, in most cases. Usual symptoms would be sore throat, runny nose, some fever (102-103f), maybe mild headache. Occasionally rash on body. Typically fever 2-3 days, sore throat 3-5 days. Kids aged 9 mos - 30 mos will have worse symptoms that last toward the longer end of these ranges.