Initial symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease

Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
Updated on September 03, 2024
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Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common pediatric exanthematous disease caused by an enterovirus infection, primarily manifesting on the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks with scattered vesicular and pustular rashes. The incubation period for hand, foot, and mouth disease generally ranges from three to five days. The initial stage of the illness may include fever and sore mouth, or discomfort in the throat, leading to reluctance in children to eat. Accompanying symptoms might include mild coughing, runny nose, and throat discomfort. During a physical examination, a doctor may observe scattered small vesicles in the mouth mucosa, or shallow ulcers that have already erupted. These are mainly found on the lingual and buccal mucosa, as well as the mucosa on the inner side of the lips and upper palate. Subsequently, rashes appear on the hands and feet, generally starting as maculopapular rashes that slowly turn into vesicular rashes. These rashes are distributed eccentrically and typically resolve on their own within two to three days without scaling, scarring, or pigmentation. The oral vesicles usually heal on their own within a week. Some children with milder cases may only exhibit rashes or vesicular pharyngitis.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
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Does hand, foot and mouth disease itch?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a condition caused by an intestinal virus, primarily characterized by herpes on the hands, feet, oral cavity, and buttocks. Some affected individuals may experience fever, ranging from low to moderate, while others may have high fever, and still others may not have any fever at all. The herpes is neither painful nor itchy, so there is no need for special treatment or handling of the herpes, just symptomatic treatment and timely fever reduction when necessary. For common cases, it is appropriate to orally administer some antiviral medications, and at the same time, take some traditional Chinese medicine that clears heat and detoxifies, while maintaining clean and hygienic skin.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
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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 Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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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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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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Characteristics of hand, foot, and mouth disease rash

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a rash disease caused by an intestinal virus infection, characterized by scattered maculopapular and vesicular rashes on the hands, feet, buttocks, and other areas. Typically, small vesicles appear on the oral mucosa, or they may already have ruptured into shallow ulcers, primarily located on the tongue, buccal mucosa, palate, and inner lips. Subsequently, rashes appear on the hands and feet, most commonly as maculopapules, which then develop into vesiculopapules about three to seven millimeters in size. The vesicles have a relatively thick covering and are surrounded by reddened skin, predominantly located at the extremities. Sometimes, they may extend to the arms, legs, buttocks, or perineal area. The distribution of the rash is centrifugal, with the number of lesions varying from a few to dozens. Generally, the lesions absorb on their own within two to three days without desquamation, scarring, or pigmentation. The vesicles and ulcers in the mouth mostly heal on their own within a week.

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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.