Question
A young girl has developed severe mouth sores and was diagnosed with suspected Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease at a community clinic. She experienced a fever of up to 38.5 degrees Celsius and had headaches. Could these symptoms be indicative of encephalitis or meningitis?
Answer
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is caused by enterovirus infection, primarily manifesting as rashes on the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks, along with upper respiratory symptoms. If not treated promptly, it may lead to severe complications such as encephalitis. The virus can cross the blood-brain barrier to enter the brain, and fever is not directly related since it is the body’s immune response. It is recommended to take oral medications under a doctor’s guidance and use Anruike for physical cooling treatment for fever. The general course of the disease lasts about one week to ten days. Enhanced care should be provided to prevent complications, drink plenty of water, avoid spicy and greasy foods, and maintain a light diet.