Question
The child feels unwell, so I ask what’s wrong with the child. I feel that he is particularly uncomfortable, so I take him to the hospital. The doctor says it’s hand, foot, and mouth disease. What are the causes of hand, foot, and mouth disease in children?
Answer
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is an acute infectious disease caused by enteroviruses (commonly seen in Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71). Generally, hand, foot, and mouth disease needs to be differentiated from chickenpox, measles, atypical measles, pediatric acute rash, herpes zoster, and rubella. It can be identified based on epidemiological characteristics, rash morphology, location, rash timing, lymphadenopathy, and accompanying symptoms. The form and location of the rash are the most important. Ultimately, it can be identified through pathogenic and serological testing. (1) Routine cases. 1. General treatment: Pay attention to isolation to avoid cross-infection. Adequate rest, light diet, and oral and skin care. 2. Symptomatic treatment: Treat symptoms such as fever with a combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine.