Question
My child caught hand, foot, and mouth disease from a schoolmate, but the other child had a more severe fever. My child doesn’t have much of a fever; they just have something growing. Since the child has been receiving intravenous drips and taking medicine for many days, can my child skip the medicine? Can hand, foot, and mouth disease heal without medicine?
Answer
Most common hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by enterovirus infection, a contagious disease. Most children have mild symptoms after falling ill. If there are no symptoms like fever, it is recommended to isolate the child at home. They do not need to take medicine. They can be given more fresh vegetables and fruits to ensure they rest and increase their nutrition. Boosting the body’s immunity is beneficial for a quick recovery from the disease. Most of the time during the week should be sufficient for self-healing.