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Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease Symptoms and causes and prevention |
Symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disorders generally include fever, mouth pain, and skin rashes.
Hand diseases, foot and mouth disease are common in babies and children under the age of five. Most children have mild symptoms for 7-10 days.
The symptoms are
Fever and flu-like symptoms
Children often develop a fever and other flu-like symptoms three to six days after the virus appears.
Symptoms may include:
- fever
- Eat or drink less
- Irritated neck
- Don't feel good
Other symptoms may appear in the next few days.
Sores in the mouth
A day or two after the fever starts, your child may have a sore mouth (herpangina).
These sores usually start with small red spots, often on the back of the mouth, which can blister and become painful.
Signs that swallowing can be painful for your child:
Do not eat nor drink
Drooling more than usual
I just want to drink cold liquids
Skin itch
Your child may have a rash on the palm and soles of the feet.
It can also occur on the knees, elbows, buttocks, or genital area.
The rash is generally considered flat, red spots, sometimes blistered.
The fluid in the bladder and scabies that form when the bladder heals can contain the virus that causes diseases of the hands, feet, and mouth.
Keep blisters or scabs clean and do not touch them.
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Treat symptoms at home
The infection is often mild and symptoms can be treated at home.
However, sometimes you need to see a doctor.
Treat hand, foot, and mouth disorders
When should you see a doctor?
Consult a doctor if
- Your child is not drinking enough to stay hydrated.
- Symptoms do not improve after 10 days.
- Your child has a weakened immune system or if the symptoms are severe.
- Your child is very young, especially less than 6 months old.
Diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease.
Health care providers can usually determine if a person has hand, foot, and mouth disease by examining and considering the patient.
How old is the patient
What are the patient's symptoms?
How are the rashes and sores in the mouth?
Sometimes a doctor can take samples from the patient's throat, bladder, or stool and send them to the lab to detect the virus.
FMD Treatment
Most people with hand, foot, and mouth disorders get better on their own in 7-10 days.
There is no specific medical treatment for diseases of the hands, feet, and mouth.
You can take steps to relieve symptoms and prevent dehydration when you or your child is sick.
Treat symptoms and prevent dehydration.
Take over-the-counter medications to relieve fever and sore mouth. Never give aspirin to children.
Drink plenty of fluids. Sores in the mouth can make swallowing painful, so your child may not want to drink a lot. Make sure you drink enough to stay hydrated.
When should you see a health professional?
Consult a doctor if
Your child is not drinking enough to stay hydrated.
Symptoms do not improve after 10 days.
Your child has a weakened immune system or if the symptoms are severe.
Your child is very young, especially less than 6 months old.
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Prevent the spread
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Stay home when you are sick
Prevent HFMD
- Wash your hands
- Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds to avoid spreading germs.
Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease Prevention
Hand, foot, and mouth diseases are highly contagious.
You can help prevent the spread or spread of hand, foot, and mouth disease by following simple steps.
Wash your hands
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Always wash your hands:
- After changing the diaper.
- After going to the bathroom
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- Before and after treating a sick person.
- Help children wash their hands. Teach them to wash their hands, and be sure to wash frequently.
Clean and disinfect
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and shared objects, including toys and door handles.
- Don't touch your eyes, nose, and mouth
- You can become infected with hand, foot, and mouth disorders if you have the virus on your hands and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Do not touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with your hands without washing to reduce the risk of disease.
- Avoid close contact with sick people.
- Avoid touching someone with hand, foot and mouth problems, hugging or kissing them.
- Stay home if you have a hand, foot, and mouth disease.
- Talk to your doctor if you are not sure when to return to work or when your child should return to school or daycare.
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In the United States, no vaccine protects against viruses that cause hand, foot, and mouth disease.
The researchers are working on the development of vaccines to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease in the future.
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