Hand, foot and mouth disease in the season: Things to know

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral infection occurring in young children that is easy to cause a large epidemic but does not have a specific medication. Young children who are not treated promptly can cause dangerous complications.

Expressions of burns on the soles of the feet in hand, foot and mouth disease.(Photo: Life health)

Symptoms of the disease

Symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease usually appear within 3-5 days after exposure to the infection. This time is called the incubation period.

Early symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease include:

1. High fever - usually about 38-39 ° C.
2. Anorexia.
3. Cough.
4. Stomachache.
5. Sore throat.

Occasionally, hand, foot and mouth disease can cause vomiting , especially if caused by the enterovirus 71 strain.

These early symptoms may last 12-48 hours.

Mouth ulcers: After 1 or 2 days, the red spots begin to appear in the mouth, especially around the tongue, gums and the inside of the cheeks.

First, these notes are about the size of a small button button. They then quickly developed into large yellow-gray ulcers, surrounded by a red circle. There will usually be 5-10 stains in the mouth.

These marks can be very painful, making it difficult for children to eat, drink and swallow, making them very uncomfortable and fussy.

These mouth ulcers will last within 5-7 days.

Skin rash: Very soon after the ulcers in the mouth appear, small red spots appear on the child's skin.

The most common locations of these notes are the fingers, palms, soles of the feet and occasionally on the buttocks and groin.

These notes are about 2-5mm in size, the middle is dark gray and has an oval shape.

These nodules are usually painless and non-itchy, although they can become small blisters, sometimes causing pain and pain. It is important not to break these notes, as it can spread the disease.

The rash on the skin and blisters can last up to 10 days.

Do not break these notes, as they can spread the disease

Causes of hand, foot and mouth disease

Foot and mouth disease is caused by a number of different enterovirus types, but all belong to enterovirus A group. The most common types are coxsackievirus A16, A6, A10 and enterovirus 71.

The virus first spreads to the tissues in the mouth, near the tonsils, and into the digestive system.

The virus can then spread to nearby lymph nodes and pass through the blood throughout the body. The immune system will fight back the virus to prevent it from spreading to vital organs, such as the brain.

How is the disease spread?

Hand, foot and mouth disease viruses can be spread in two ways:

1. Through the secretions from the respiratory tract - similar to the spread of flu.
2. Through contaminated surfaces or waste (feces).

Usually the disease spreads due to the hand getting the virus from contaminated objects, then putting it near the mouth or nose. It can also be spread by inhaling the virus through droplets suspended in the air.

The virus will not spread this way once the patient has had symptoms.

However, the virus may also be present in large quantities in the stool of infected people, and may persist there for up to 4 weeks after symptoms have resolved.

Hand, foot and mouth disease if exposed to fluid from blisters or saliva of an infected person.

3. Differentiate hand, foot and mouth disease from other diseases

Many viruses can cause redness and ulcers in the mouth - not just those that cause hand, foot and mouth disease.

However, doctors can distinguish hand, foot and mouth disease from other viral infections by:

1. Age of the patient - hand and foot and mouth disease is most common in children under 10 years old.
2. Symptom models - symptoms that begin with high fever and sore throat; then ulcers develop in the child's mouth, followed by rashes in the hands and feet.
3. Expression of nodules - these nodules are smaller than chicken pox and often have different colors, sizes and shapes.

It is possible to confirm (or exclude) hand, foot and mouth disease by using a cotton swab to wipe the skin, throat or rectum of the patient and bring the test. For children, stool samples may be used.

Chickenpox and mouth and foot and mouth disease have a similar water shadow expression (Artwork: Internet)

Symptoms

Hand, foot and mouth disease is usually mild and resolves without treatment. Complications are rare, but may include:

Dehydration

The sores in the throat and mouth can make it hard to swallow and difficult to swallow, leading to dehydration. It is important for children to drink enough water. Encourage children to drink water and milk instead of acidic drinks like fruit juice.

It may be easier to encourage children to drink at least a few times instead of trying to drink a lot at a time.

Contact your doctor if your child is unable or unwilling to drink any drink, or if he has signs of dehydration, including:

1. The skin is dry, wrinkled, and when the skin is pinched, it will last long.
2. Cannot urinate, or no urine for 8 hours.
3. Weeping.
4. Sunken eyes.
5. The child seems tired and unusually lethargic.
6. Sunphobia (in young children).

Cases of mild dehydration can be treated with oral rehydration solutions, available at most pharmacies. More severe cases may require hospital treatment.

Superinfection

There is also a risk of infection on the skin, especially if the nodules are scratched.

Symptoms of skin infections include :

1. Pain, redness, swelling and burning sensation in the area of ​​infection.
2. Skin oozes water or has pus.

Give your child a checkup if he or she is suspected of having skin infections, because he may need topical or oral antibiotics.

Viral meningitis

In rare cases, hand, foot and mouth disease can lead to viral meningitis. Viral meningitis is less severe than bacterial meningitis and does not pose a serious health threat.

Most children will recover completely within 2 weeks.

Symptoms include:

1. Fever is 38 ° C or more.
2. Li.
3. Headache.
4. Hard neck.
5. Fear of light.

There is no specific treatment for viral meningitis in addition to taking painkillers to reduce symptoms.

Encephalitis

The most serious but rare complication of hand, foot and mouth disease is encephalitis, which can cause brain damage and life-threatening.

Early signs of encephalitis are flu-like symptoms that can last for a few hours or days.

Other symptoms include:

1. Tired.
2. Indifferent, lethargic or confused.
3. Twitching limbs.
4. Weakness or paralysis of limbs.
5. Fear of light.
6. Other specific neurological symptoms.

Children with encephalitis need to be hospitalized for treatment.

Most cases of encephalitis associated with hand, foot and mouth disease occur in large outbreaks caused by enterovirus 71.

The most serious but rare complication of hand, foot and mouth disease is encephalitis

Treatment

There is no cure for hand, foot and mouth disease. The disease usually resolves after 7-10 days.

The disease is caused by a virus, meaning it cannot be treated with antibiotics. Antiviral drugs are also not effective in the treatment of hand, foot and mouth disease.

Can relieve symptoms in children by:

1. Encourage children to rest and drink plenty of water (preferably plain or milk; avoid acidic drinks such as ca or orange juice)
2. Offer soft foods like mashed potatoes and soup, as eating and swallowing will be quite difficult.
3. Take medicine to treat symptoms.

Drug

Over-the-counter medications like paracetamol and ibuprofen, can help relieve sore throats and reduce fever. For pregnant women, paracetamol is preferred over ibuprofen. Do not use aspirin for children under 16 years of age.

There are many types of gels, sprays and mouthwashes to treat mouth ulcers, although their actual effectiveness is unknown. These drugs include:

1. Lidocaine gel - can be used for children of all ages.
2. Benzydamine mouth spray - for children 5 years and older.
3. Benzydamine mouthwash - used for children 12 years and older.
4. Choline salicylate gel - only suitable for adults 16 and older and should not be used for women who are pregnant or nursing.

Carefully read the instructions before use because you can only take the medicine a few times a day.

Another way is to rinse your mouth with warm salt water - mix half a teaspoon of salt (2.5g) with 1/4 liter of water. It is important not to swallow, so this is not recommended for young children.

If the child has blisters, avoid breaking the acne because the fluid inside makes the disease spread. The blisters will dry out and go away within 7 days.

When to visit?

Most cases of hand, foot and mouth disease do not require hospitalization because symptoms will resolve within 7 days without treatment.

However, if you are not sure whether your child is true hand, foot and mouth disease, you can take your child to the doctor.

Also contact your doctor if:

1. Children cannot or will not drink any drinks.
2. Children have signs of dehydration, including not urinating as much as usual.
3. Symptoms of the child did not improve or worsen after 7 days.
4. Children have secondary symptoms, such as changes in mental status, seizures, personality changes and behavior.

Clean personal hygiene helps prevent hand, foot and mouth disease.

Prevention of disease spread

Hand, foot and mouth disease is highly contagious. The best way to avoid getting sick and spreading the disease is to avoid close contact with the sick person and

1. Always wash your hands after going to the toilet or after changing diapers for children, and before preparing food.
2. Encourage sick children to wash their hands often.
3. Avoid sharing items with infected people.
4. Ensure the work surfaces are always clean.
5. Washing blankets or clothes can stick with saliva, fluid from blisters or faeces with hot water.

With workplaces, schools and kindergartens

If a child has hand, foot and mouth disease, it is necessary to let the child miss school while the child is tired.

Children can go back to school as soon as they feel better. There is no need to make the child stay away from school until the last vesicular nodule is close, because then all the blisters will go away.

However, this is only advice. Each school and child-rearing facility may refuse to accept children until they are completely cured.

These tips also apply to adults with hand, foot and mouth disease who want to know when they can return to work.