What is hand, foot and mouth disease?
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common childhood infectious disease, mainly caused by certain enteroviruses, including EV71, CoxsackieA16, CoxsackieA5, CoxsackieA10, etc. It usually occurs in summer and autumn and is easily spread in places where high-density crowds gather, such as kindergartens and nurseries.
Symptoms and transmission methods of hand, foot and mouth disease
First of all, the incubation period of hand, foot and mouth disease is generally 3-7 days. During the incubation period, children may be asymptomatic or have mild fever, fatigue and other reactions, but these are not easy to detect. Then, the disease course reaches its peak, the body temperature rises, and symptoms such as oral rash and herpes on the skin of hands and feet appear. Children may experience oral pain, loss of appetite, oral ulcers, erythema, and blisters. On the skin of hands and feet, blisters, rashes, itching, and peeling are usually the symptoms.
Hand, foot and mouth disease is mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Body fluids such as nasal mucus, saliva, and feces secreted by people with hand, foot and mouth disease contain viruses, and people who come into contact with these body fluids may be infected with the disease. At the same time, because children do not have a strong sense of self-hygiene, they can easily spread the virus through unclean tableware, toys and other props.
Preventive measures for hand, foot and mouth disease
In order to prevent the occurrence of hand, foot and mouth disease, the following preventive measures are worthy of attention:
1. Pay attention to washing your hands frequently, especially after contact with someone with hand, foot and mouth disease, wash your hands in time to reduce the flow of contamination.
2. Parents and schools must maintain cleanliness and disinfect public areas, toys, tableware, etc. regularly.
3. Strictly control the flow of people in places where children engage in intensive activities, pay attention to the distance between each child, and try to avoid crowding.
Treatment methods for hand, foot and mouth disease
If you find that your baby has symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease, you should go to the hospital for diagnosis and symptomatic treatment according to the doctor\’s instructions. At the same time, there are the following suggestions:
1. Control body temperature. Patients with hand, foot and mouth disease may have a high fever and need to monitor their body temperature closely and take timely measures to control their body temperature within the normal range.
2. Develop good oral hygiene habits. Eat liquid, semi-liquid, and other foods that are easy to digest, chew, and swallow. Avoid spicy, irritating, or hard foods that may irritate the mouth and affect the recovery of ulcers.
3. Pay attention to skin hygiene. Patients\’ hands, feet and other parts are prone to rashes and blisters. They need to be kept dry and clean at all times and avoid scratching as much as possible.
Summary
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common childhood infectious disease that is most likely to occur in summer and autumn. Understanding the symptoms and modes of transmission of hand, foot and mouth disease can help us better understand the disease and take appropriate preventive and treatment measures. Preventing the occurrence of hand, foot and mouth disease requires close cooperation between parents and schools to ensure a clean and hygienic environment. Of course, treatment methods for hand, foot and mouth disease are also very necessary. Seeking a doctor promptly and following the doctor\’s instructions for symptomatic treatment can also alleviate the condition to a certain extent and promote recovery.
