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Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)
Is hand, foot, and mouth disease contagious?
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a contagious disease caused by an infection of enteroviruses. There are more than 20 types of enteroviruses that cause the disease, with Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71 being the most common. The main clinical manifestations of this disease include blisters on the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks. Some patients may experience fever, while others may have no fever or only a mild fever. The disease is contagious and primarily transmitted through contact. For example, it can be spread through saliva, droplets, hand-to-mouth contact, and contact with the secretions from the blisters, among other methods.
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.
Prevention of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common contagious exanthematous disease in pediatrics, caused by a viral infection with a certain epidemic nature. Its main modes of transmission include respiratory, digestive tracts, and close contact. During the epidemic, usually in the summer and autumn seasons, it is recommended that parents avoid taking children to public places. If a suspected case is found, timely isolation should be carried out, and close contacts should be quarantined for 7-10 days. Additionally, it's important to maintain good personal hygiene, such as washing hands before eating and after using the toilet, and to keep indoor ventilation in the home. If a child has been in contact with an infection or a suspected case of hand, foot, and mouth disease, it is crucial to monitor the child for any discomfort and check their temperature regularly. If the child feels unwell, take them to the hospital for treatment promptly.
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.
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.
Symptoms of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Children
The symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease in children primarily result from viral infections of the intestine, a common communicable disease particularly prevalent among children under five, especially those under three years of age. The symptoms can be categorized into typical cases where most children experience a sudden onset of illness, often accompanied by upper respiratory tract infection symptoms such as fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Some may also experience headaches. Additionally, rashes or vesicles may appear on the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks, typically surrounded by inflammatory red skin with little fluid inside the vesicles. These lesions are characterized by being painless, non-itchy, non-crusted, and non-scarring. It is important to note that not all children will have simultaneous rashes on their hands, feet, and mouth areas. In severe cases, while most children experience only mild symptoms and can be isolated at home, some may develop complications involving the nervous system and impairment of respiratory and circulatory functions. This can manifest as muscle spasms, encephalitis, acute flaccid paralysis, cardiopulmonary failure, and neurogenic pulmonary edema. Therefore, once a severe case is identified, hospitalization is recommended to prevent potential fatalities or long-term sequelae.
Symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a disease caused by enterovirus that results in sores on the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks, accompanied by symptoms such as fever. It is generally caused by Enterovirus 71 or Coxsackievirus A16. Most cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease are typical and may involve fever, low fever, or no fever at all. However, common symptoms include sores in the mouth and on the pharynx, as well as on the hands, feet, and buttocks. The general course of the disease lasts five to seven days, but severe cases may last longer. Severe cases may present with symptoms such as listlessness, irritability, vomiting, and trembling limbs. More serious conditions can include microcirculatory disorders, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, neurogenic edema, and bleeding, among others.
Initial symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease
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.
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.
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.