Does hand, foot and mouth disease itch?

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on September 25, 2024
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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 Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Hand, foot, and mouth disease is spread through:

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an infectious disease caused by enteroviruses. There are more than 20 types of enteroviruses that can cause the disease, among which Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71 are the most common. It frequently occurs in children under the age of 5 and manifests as mouth pain, loss of appetite, low fever, and small blisters or ulcers on the hands, feet, and mouth. Most affected children can recover within about a week. The main routes of transmission for hand, foot, and mouth disease can include the gastrointestinal tract, as well as respiratory transmission, and close contact such as through saliva, cough droplets, etc. Sharing utensils can also spread the disease.

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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 Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Late-stage symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an acute infectious disease caused by enterovirus infection. Generally, there are more than twenty types of enteroviruses that cause hand, foot, and mouth disease, but the most common are Coxsackie virus A16 and enterovirus 71. The initial symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease are blisters in the hands, feet, and mouth; some cases include fever, while others do not. In later stages, the disease may exhibit recurring fevers, and the blisters on the mouth, hands, feet, and buttocks may burst and crust over. After crusting, the blisters gradually heal, but in some cases, the disease can progress to severe cases. For instance, complications such as encephalitis, brainstem encephalitis, myocarditis can occur, and some cases may develop neurogenic pulmonary edema, pulmonary hemorrhage, and circulatory failure, among others. However, such severe cases are generally rare.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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Hand, foot, and mouth disease transmission routes

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by an intestinal virus infection, characterized by a rash of scattered maculopapular and vesicular lesions on the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks. Generally, the prognosis is good. The disease is quite contagious, primarily spreading through the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, and close contact. Therefore, during peak seasons of hand, foot, and mouth disease, children should stay at home and avoid crowded places and playing with children who have the disease. The highest incidence of this disease is among children under three years old, so it is essential to pay attention to the prevention and health care of infants. If a child in kindergarten is found to have the disease, they should rest at home and not return to the kindergarten immediately.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease in children

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an acute febrile illness caused by an intestinal virus infection. It is primarily characterized by vesicles or papulovesicular rashes on the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks. There are over 20 types of intestinal viruses that can cause the disease, with the most common being Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71. The main symptoms include recurrent fever, although some cases may not present with fever. There may also be symptoms such as drooling, and vesicles or papulovesicular rashes on the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks. Additionally, some patients may exhibit lethargy, limb tremors, startle reactions, and vomiting. In severe cases, symptoms can include shortness of breath and coughing up pink frothy sputum, among others.