How to disinfect hand, foot, and mouth disease?

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on September 03, 2024
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Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an acute infectious disease caused by a viral infection. It mainly spreads through the respiratory tract, digestive tract, and close contact. Being in contact with a carrier or a child with the disease can result in transmission. It is important to properly handle the infected child's feces and other excretions. Clothes can be soaked in a 3% bleach solution and exposed to sunlight. Keep the room well-ventilated. Other contaminated daily items, such as toys or closely contacted objects like dishware and children's eating utensils, should be disinfected promptly.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
54sec home-news-image

How is hand, foot and mouth disease transmitted?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a viral infection caused by an enterovirus infection, mainly manifesting as exanthematous disease with maculopapular and vesicular rashes on the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks. It is a contagious disease with relatively strong transmissibility, mainly spread through the respiratory tract, digestive tract, and close contact. Therefore, once a child is diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth disease, isolation measures must be taken, and the child should not attend kindergarten or school to avoid infecting other healthy children. Additionally, to prevent the occurrence of hand, foot, and mouth disease, it is crucial to ensure proper ventilation by opening windows during the epidemic period to avoid causing an outbreak of the disease.

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Written by Zhang Cui Xiang
Pediatrics
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The order of rash development in hand, foot, and mouth disease.

At the initial stage of hand, foot, and mouth disease, children may experience symptoms such as fever, coughing, runny nose, and drooling, which are similar to those of an upper respiratory infection. Some children may also experience nausea and vomiting. Subsequently, oval or spindle-shaped blisters appear on the hands, feet, and even the back. These blisters are surrounded by a red halo, and the fluid inside the blisters is clear. The long axis of the blister aligns with the skin lines. Then, the centers of the blisters turn yellow, become concave, dry out, and begin to peel. Additionally, there are scattered, fairly hard, pale red papules or vesicles at the fingertips, and similar lesions can also appear in the mouth, such as on the lips, tongue, oral mucosa, and gums. However, the oral blisters quickly rupture, forming gray-white spots or a gray-white film surrounded by a red halo. Underneath the gray-white film, punctate or patchy erosive surfaces can be seen. These symptoms are generally quite obvious, and it is recommended to seek medical treatment promptly if observed.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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Causes of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a rash illness characterized by scattered papules and vesicles on the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks, caused by an enterovirus infection. It is a contagious disease caused by a viral infection, specifically by Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71, which are part of the enterovirus group. Other Coxsackie enteroviruses can also cause hand, foot, and mouth disease. Common enterovirus infections can also lead to hand, foot, and mouth disease. This means that children who have had hand, foot, and mouth disease can potentially get it again, and this is important knowledge for everyone to understand.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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What should I do about hand, foot, and mouth disease?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common exanthematous infectious disease in children caused by enterovirus infections. Most cases are mild to moderate and can be treated at home with oral medication. Doctors generally prescribe antiviral medications, and if the child's temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees Celsius, antipyretic medications are also required. If there is discomfort in the throat, some medications can be sprayed to relieve local discomfort. For severe cases, such as those caused by EV71 virus infection, it is crucial to be vigilant. This type of infection can lead to symptoms involving the nervous system and may rapidly progress to severe conditions. Therefore, if it is confirmed that the hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by EV71 infection and the child's condition is serious, hospitalization should be promptly sought. Additionally, for children under three years old, it's important to actively vaccinate against hand, foot, and mouth disease to prevent illness caused by EV71 virus infection.

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Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
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Symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common infectious disease during childhood, characterized by rashes on the hands, feet, and around the mouth as described by its clinical symptoms. Concurrently, with the red rashes, there are symptoms such as fever. In children, vesicles in the throat can cause severe sore throat. These are the common symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease. Since hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by a viral infection, some children may experience myocarditis-like symptoms such as chest tightness, fatigue, and shortness of breath due to the virus affecting the myocardium, or present symptoms of myocardial damage. These are common clinical symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease.