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Hand, foot and mouth disease in children |
Foot and mouth disease is a disease caused by a type of virus called an enterovirus. It is very contagious.
The disease often occurs in children under the age of 10. It can spread very quickly in schools and kindergartens. Adolescents and adults can also be affected, although most adults are immune.
Foot and mouth disease is not the same as foot and mouth disease which affects farm animals such as cattle, sheep, and pigs.
The two infections have nothing to do with each other. You cannot get foot and mouth disease in animals.
symptom
Once your child is infected with hand, foot, and mouth disease, symptoms can take 3 to 5 days.
Symptoms may include:
Fever (temperature above 38 ° C)
generally feel uncomfortable
Irritated throat
Loss of appetite (not wanting to eat)
After a few days, your child may develop:
Mouth sores
rash: usually not itchy and consists of red spots on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The spots can become bubbles.
Symptoms are generally mild and disappear after 7-10 days. Some people have no symptoms.
Cold sore on the lip
Red spots that become blisters usually appear on the hands and feet.
How to stop the spread of FMD
Foot and mouth disease can be easily transmitted to other children. It is transmitted by coughing, sneezing, blisters, and touching stool.
They are contagious a few days before symptoms appear. It may take 3-5 days before symptoms appear.
To reduce the risk of spread of FMD:
Wash your hands often with warm soapy water and teach children
Wash your hands after using the bathroom and handling diapers.
Wash your hands before preparing food.
Use tissues to catch germs when you cough or sneeze
Wear tissues as soon as possible and then wash your hands
Do not give your child towels or household items like cups or cutlery.
Teach your child not to share silverware, plates, cups, or water bottles with other children.
Wash dirty bedding and clothing with a warm cloth.
For older children
Teach your child to cough and sneeze into a tissue. Discard the tissue immediately. Then let your child wash and dry his hands. Also, wash and dry your own hands.
School attendance or childcare
Keep your child away from school or daycare while uncomfortable.
But as soon as they feel better, they can go back to school or childcare. You don't have to wait for all the blisters to heal.
If you keep your child away any longer, the disease is unlikely to spread. Your son was probably contagious even before he had symptoms.
Foot and mouth disease diagnosis
If the virus occurs at your child's school or daycare, the virus has probably infected them. You will probably know this without having to take your child to a family doctor.
You should take your child to the family doctor if:
You don't know if it's the hand, the foot and the mouth or something else
You care about your son
Your child does not drink or show signs of dehydration.
It is difficult for you to control your child's temperature
They do not improve after 7 days.
You should call ahead to tell your family doctor that your child can have a hand, afoot, and a mouth. Because this virus is contagious, they can meet at a time when the operation is silent.
This is to prevent the infection from spreading to other patients.
If your GP or pediatrician does not know if your child has FMD, more tests may be needed.
These might be:
a cotton swab, where they rub their child's throat with a cotton swab (looks like a long cotton swab)
a sample of poop
These samples are sent to the laboratory for analysis.
processing
There is no treatment for FMD. It is a viral infection and cannot be treated with antibiotics.
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Hand, foot and mouth disease in children |
Treat symptoms
It can treat the symptoms of foot and mouth disease. You can reduce symptoms by resting and drinking plenty of fluids.
Paracetamol (or paracetamol for children) can be taken to relieve fever and sore throat.
Aspirin should not be given to children under the age of 16.
Ask your pharmacist what medications are right for you or your child.
Mouth ulcers can be anesthetized with mouth rinses or anesthetic sprays.
Fever and pain
You can give your child liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve fever and pain. This should ease the pain in your mouth. It may be a good idea to give them acetaminophen approximately 30 minutes before eating. It could help them eat.
Drink enough
You should give your child plenty of fluids to drink. This will help them feel better. This will also prevent dehydration.
If you have a sore mouth, you may not want to drink. Therefore, it may be helpful to give them acetaminophen or ibuprofen regularly.
It may be helpful to take a sip of the liquid through a straw.
If your child is breastfeeding, offer it regularly. This will help them stay hydrated. It will also comfort her.
Treat your mouth pain
Soft foods are easier for your child to eat. Soft foods include mashed potatoes and vegetables, smoothies, and even ice cream.
Salty or spicy foods can bite your child's mouth. Sour foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits can also bite.
Older children may find it helpful to rinse and spit out their mouth with warm, salty water. Give this to your child only if he is old enough to spit it out.
Talk to your pharmacist as you can get a mouthwash, gel, or anesthetic spray for your child. If your child stops drinking due to a toothache, take him to his family doctor.
You could be dehydrated.
FMD Complications
Mouth sores caused by foot and mouth disease can be painful and make it difficult for your child to eat and drink. The most common complications can include:
Dehydration
Skin infection
Dehydration
A sore throat and a sore mouth can prevent your child from drinking and swallowing. This can lead to dehydration.
You must drink plenty of fluids.
If you or your child is severely dehydrated, you may need to be hospitalized and receive a drop of liquid.
A drop is a small tube that is inserted into a vein in your child's hand or arm.
infection
If the skin around your child's blisters becomes very red or if the pus comes out of the blisters, this may be a sign of infection.
In this case, talk to your family doctor.
If you are pregnant
FMD generally does not cause complications during pregnancy. However, high temperatures during the first three months of pregnancy can increase the risk of miscarriage.
Try not to worry. Adults become less infected than children.
If you are pregnant and come into contact with your hands, feet, and mouth, talk to your GP or midwife. If you get the disease shortly before the expiration date, there is little risk of the infection spreading to your baby.
Serious complications
Serious complications of FMD are very rare.
In rare cases, the virus can cause inflammation of the heart, brain, or lungs. In very rare cases, this death can lead to death.
But keep in mind that serious complications are rare.
Take your child to the nearest hospital (A&E) emergency room where children receive treatment if they have the following symptoms:
- I don't like bright lights
- headache
- Neck stiffness
- drowsy (you have trouble waking her up)
- confusion
- Seizures
- Difficulty breathing
- Threw up
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