Question
Recently, children have shown symptoms of colds, such as fever and runny nose, accompanied by drooling and blisters on the fingertips. Is this the early symptom of hand, foot, and mouth disease?
Answer
The incubation period for hand, foot, and mouth disease is approximately 3 to 5 days during which there may be low-grade fever, general malaise, and abdominal pain as prodromal symptoms. Within 1 to 2 days, painful vesicles of millet to green bean size may appear in the oral cavity, throat, soft palate, buccal mucosa, tongue, and gums. These vesicles become small ulcers eventually due to pain, leading to drooling and refusal to eat. At the same time, rashes will appear on the hands and feet as well, most commonly on the back of the hands and feet, the sides of the fingers (toes), around the nails, and on the palms and soles. After a few days, the vesicles dry up and fade away without itching or pain. Besides hands and feet, rashes may also appear around the buttocks, near the anus, even on the trunk and limbs. If these symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek medical attention for diagnosis and treatment promptly.