Question
My child is three years old and has been diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth disease. He started having a low fever three days ago and yesterday he wasn’t interested in eating. Today I noticed that there are many white spots in his mouth, on his hands, feet, and buttocks. He keeps drooling at night. His face seems to have swollen significantly. Is this very serious?
Answer
You need to take your child to the hospital for immediate treatment as there are many viruses around. You need to have a thorough examination and diagnosis at the hospital to determine if it is indeed hand, foot, and mouth disease. If it is, hospitalization for treatment is necessary; failure to receive timely treatment can be life-threatening. With hand, foot, and mouth disease affecting the child, it is crucial for family members to take the child for immediate medical attention to prevent the blind use of medication to alleviate symptoms. For parents, timely observation of the child’s condition is essential; they should do their best to help the child receive timely medical treatment for the disease.