Question
A six-year-old child contracted hand, foot, and mouth disease last Sunday and has been improving for several days. However, they started coughing yesterday and their throat turned red today. Which medications should be used for treatment?
Answer
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an infectious disease caused by enteroviruses. Treatment is generally good with no complications, with most cases recovering within about a week. The treatment principle is symptomatic treatment, which may include taking antiviral medications and cooling and detoxifying traditional Chinese herbs, as well as supplementing vitamins B and C. If complications arise, the patient may receive intravenous gamma globulin. Hand, foot, and mouth disease has a greater impact on children, so it is recommended that parents take their child to a specialized clinic for diagnosis and treatment under a doctor’s guidance. In daily life, it is important to give children sufficient care and attention, especially pay attention to their diet, hoping they can recover soon.