Question

Doctor, in addition to children, there are also cases of adults contracting hand, foot, and mouth disease. How should hand, foot, and mouth disease be treated?

Answer

There is currently no specific treatment for hand, foot, and mouth disease, and it is mainly managed through symptomatic treatment and home care. When a child is diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth disease, parents should cooperate with the doctor to implement the following care measures:

  1. Disinfection and Isolation: First and foremost, the child should be isolated from healthy children. The child should stay at home until the fever subsides, rashes fade, and blisters crust over, which usually takes about two weeks. Toys, utensils, and other items used by the child should be thoroughly disinfected.
  2. Maintain Good Air Circulation: The child’s room should have good air circulation; avoid keeping doors and windows closed to reduce the spread of the virus indoors.
  3. Personal Hygiene: Parents should instruct the child to wash hands frequently, especially before meals and after using the toilet. Additionally, parents should wash their hands before and after caring for the child to prevent the spread of the virus.
  4. Diet Care: The child should be given light, easy-to-digest food; spicy and oily foods should be avoided.