Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) can be caught more than once because it is caused by several different types of viruses. The immunity developed after one infection is specific only to that particular virus strain, so a person can get infected again with a different strain. Recurrence of HFMD can happen as soon as a few weeks to months after the first infection, but reinfection within the same season is rare. The median time for recurrence reported in studies is about 11 to 12 months after the first episode, but it can range from just a few weeks to several years. The recurrence risk is about 1.9% at 12 months and rises to around 4% at about 3 years after the initial infection. The patient may still be contagious for several weeks after symptoms resolve since the virus can be shed in stool during that time. In summary, it is possible to get hand, foot, and mouth disease again as early as a few weeks after recovery or several months later, depending on exposure to different virus strains and individual immune response.