Question
The child developed symptoms of a cold, initially with a red throat. After taking anti-inflammatory medication, the child developed a high fever. Upon hospital examination, it was found that there were many blisters in the throat, and blisters also appeared on the child’s hands, feet, and buttocks. The diagnosis was hand, foot, and mouth disease. What is the treatment situation for hand, foot, and mouth disease, and is it severe?
Answer
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by a viral infection, often related to poor personal hygiene. Once diagnosed, treatment should be administered under a doctor’s guidance with oral antiviral medications. In severe cases, intravenous injection treatment can be combined. The typical course of the disease lasts about one week to ten days. As long as complications such as encephalitis or pneumonia do not occur, the recovery of most patients is very good. It is recommended that parents with conditions take their children to the hospital to receive vaccines for preventing hand, foot, and mouth disease and pay attention to personal hygiene at home care, washing hands frequently, taking showers, changing clothes regularly, avoiding eating cold and raw foods, and maintaining a light diet.