Is hand, foot, and mouth disease dangerous?

Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
Updated on November 22, 2024
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Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common pediatric disease caused by an intestinal viral infection, characterized by fever and rash, with severities ranging from mild to severe. If caused by a typical enterovirus infection, hand, foot, and mouth disease generally recovers quickly with antiviral treatment and proper care of the mouth and skin. However, if caused by an EV71 virus infection, it poses certain risks. This is because the EV71 virus can affect the central nervous system, leading to symptoms such as increased intracranial pressure and respiratory and circulatory dysfunction. These complications can result in respiratory failure and cardiac failure, which are severe manifestations. Therefore, hand, foot, and mouth disease caused by the EV71 virus carries certain risks. Thus, it is important to administer a vaccine made from the EV71 virus to children to prevent severe hand, foot, and mouth disease.

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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 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.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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How to prevent hand, foot, and mouth disease?

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an infectious disease caused by enteroviruses, with over 20 types, commonly Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71. These viruses are mainly transmitted through respiratory and digestive tracts, such as through droplets, hand-mouth contact, and lack of hygiene, leading to infection. To prevent this disease, first, avoid contact with individuals infected with hand, foot, and mouth disease. Second, ensure good ventilation in rooms and avoid crowded places. Additionally, it's best to clean and disinfect utensils and daily necessities. During the epidemic period, try to minimize visits to public places.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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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 Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Is hand, foot and mouth disease itchy?

Hand, foot and mouth disease is an infectious disease caused by enteroviruses. There are more than 20 types of enteroviruses that cause hand, foot and mouth disease, among which Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71 are the most common. Its main clinical symptoms include mouth pain, decreased appetite, mild fever, and the appearance of small vesicles or small ulcers on the hands, feet, mouth, and other areas. Most infected children can recover in about a week. The rash of hand, foot and mouth disease typically appears on the hands, feet, buttocks, arms, and legs as maculopapular rash, which can later turn into vesicles. These vesicles are surrounded by an inflammatory red halo and contain relatively little fluid. The rash is not itchy. Thus, the rash of hand, foot and mouth disease is unlike other allergic rashes; it does not cause itching or discomfort.