Question
Can patients with hand, foot, and mouth disease eat leek?
Answer
From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, patients with hand, foot, and mouth disease are not recommended to consume leek. From a Western medicine standpoint, there may not be any issues. However, according to the principles of Chinese herbalism, leek is considered a spicy and warming food that is not suitable for many chronic diseases and rashes as it may exacerbate or lead to recurrence of the condition. It is best to avoid eating it as leek is not a particularly nutritious food either. For children with hand, foot, and mouth disease, parents should immediately take their child to seek medical treatment and avoid using unverified over-the-counter medications. It is important to use medication correctly and closely monitor the child’s condition changes to help treat the disease as soon as possible.