Question
A 12-year-old boy has been slightly feverish with small red spots on the palm of his hand and in his mouth. What should be done for hand, foot, and mouth disease in children?
Answer
The main group at risk for the recurrence of hand, foot, and mouth disease is children under 5 years old, with those under 3 years often developing severe symptoms. In general, the younger the child, the more severe the condition tends to be. For young children, if they have symptoms like low-grade fever or potential nervous system complications such as encephalitis or meningitis, it can lead to recurrent nervous system manifestations, such as changes in breathing or repetitive movements. Such children require special attention. For these children with hand, foot, and mouth disease, parents should pay close attention to observe the severity of the illness. If a child only has rashes or a high fever, parents do not need to worry too much.