JUST a week ago, Cohen Sipple's skin was smooth and white.

But a nasty run-in with hand, foot and mouth disease has left his mother Meagan warning other parents of children with eczema to watch out for the signs.

What Ms Sipple thought was just a bad break-out of Cohen's eczema turned into a rash that spread across his body.

She later found out one of Cohen's carers had come into contact with a child who had HFMD.

While Ms Sipple said she didn't want to cause a panic, she said parents of children who have eczema needed to check for the warning signs.

"Children with eczema get it everywhere (on their bodies) and it can get quite dangerous," she said.

"He's (even) got it on the palms and there's not a lot out there that can do that.

"For one child it might not be overly dangerous, but because his whole body got infected, he needed treatment."

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Like its namesake, hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral illness that can include blister-like lesions inside the mouth, palms of the hands, soles of the feet and around the nappy area.

While Cohen is on the mend now, Ms Sipple said his condition was terrible for several days.

"It's very painful. He couldn't walk and he had to hobble on his heals, and sleep was non-existent," she said.

IF YOU think your child might be showing symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease, please consult your doctor.

SYMPTOMS

 - High temperature; Sore throat, Blister-like lesions in the mouth, on palms and on feet; Children are irritable, tired and not hungry