Question

My child has a fever today. And when he opened his mouth to show me his throat, there were white blisters inside. I’m quite worried that it might be Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease. However, there are no blisters on his hands. We went to the hospital for a check-up. The doctor said it was Herpangina. What is the difference between Herpangina and Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease?

Answer

Herpangina only produces blisters in the throat, but Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease can also have blisters on the hands and feet. The virus and mode of infection are similar; treatment mainly involves supportive care with no special antiviral drugs. During an outbreak of this disease, children should have a soft and smooth diet, avoid spicy food, consume more vitamin-rich foods, and use physical or medication-based coolingmethods to prevent high fever seizures.