Question
A four-year-old girl has small blisters on the corners of her mouth, with the surrounding skin appearing red, and no other abnormalities are seen. The parents are worried because the girl had hand, foot, and mouth disease in 2009 and are concerned whether this is a recurrence. Will children who have had hand, foot, and mouth disease be able to get infected again?
Answer
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an infectious disease caused by various enteroviruses, common pathogens including Coxsackievirus A group 16, 4, 5, 9, 10 types, B group 2, 5 types, as well as enterovirus 71. Due to the existence of multiple virus types, even if a child has had hand, foot, and mouth disease before, there is still a risk of re-infection. It is recommended that parents pay attention to hygiene and safety and wish the child a healthy recovery.