What should I do about hand, foot, and mouth disease?

Written by Yao Li Qin

Pediatrics

Updated on September 21, 2024

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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 Yan Xin Liang

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How long should hand, foot, and mouth disease be isolated?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an infectious disease caused by enterovirus infection. There are more than 20 common types of enteroviruses, with Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71 being the most common. The main clinical symptoms include fever, mouth pain, loss of appetite, and small blisters or ulcers on the hands, feet, and mouth. Most affected children can heal on their own in about a week, so ordinary cases can be isolated for about a week until all the rashes have crusted over and disappeared. However, for severe cases, the isolation period should be extended appropriately, possibly lasting 10-14 days, or even longer.

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How to disinfect hand, foot, and mouth disease?

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 Li Jiao Yan

Neonatology

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Initial symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a contagious disease caused by viral infection, which is common in infants and toddlers, especially those under the age of three. The main symptoms include fever, accompanied by maculopapular rashes or vesicles on the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks. Some initial symptoms are similar to having a cough, runny nose, headache, mouth pain, or sore throat. Sometimes there may be drooling; consequently, babies might drink less milk, and there can be nausea and vomiting. Additionally, some children may experience nausea and diarrhea along with other gastrointestinal symptoms. Another major sign is the presence of vesicles in the hands, feet, and mouth, or maculopapular rashes on the buttocks.

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Written by Feng Hai Tao

Pediatrics

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Symptoms of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Children

The symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease in children primarily result from viral infections of the intestine, a common communicable disease particularly prevalent among children under five, especially those under three years of age. The symptoms can be categorized into typical cases where most children experience a sudden onset of illness, often accompanied by upper respiratory tract infection symptoms such as fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Some may also experience headaches. Additionally, rashes or vesicles may appear on the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks, typically surrounded by inflammatory red skin with little fluid inside the vesicles. These lesions are characterized by being painless, non-itchy, non-crusted, and non-scarring. It is important to note that not all children will have simultaneous rashes on their hands, feet, and mouth areas. In severe cases, while most children experience only mild symptoms and can be isolated at home, some may develop complications involving the nervous system and impairment of respiratory and circulatory functions. This can manifest as muscle spasms, encephalitis, acute flaccid paralysis, cardiopulmonary failure, and neurogenic pulmonary edema. Therefore, once a severe case is identified, hospitalization is recommended to prevent potential fatalities or long-term sequelae.

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Pediatrics

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How is hand, foot, and mouth disease transmitted?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an infectious disease caused by enteroviral infections. There are more than 20 types of enteroviruses that can cause hand, foot, and mouth disease, but the most common are Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71. The main clinical symptoms include pain in the mouth, anorexia, low fever, and the appearance of small vesicles or ulcers on the hands, feet, mouth, and other areas. Most children can recover in about a week, but a few may develop serious complications such as myocarditis, pulmonary edema, and aseptic meningitis. The general transmission routes are through the digestive tract, respiratory tract, and close contact, such as through droplets, sharing utensils, and hand-to-mouth contact, etc.