Causes and Treatment of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Question

What are the causes of hand, foot, and mouth disease?

Answer

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an infectious illness caused by enteroviruses, which can lead to blisters on the hands, feet, and mouth. The blisters on the patient’s hands contain neutrophils and eosinophil fragments, with the surrounding epithelial cells showing intercellular and intracellular edema. The dermis beneath the blisters has a mixed infiltration of various white blood cells, which are the main factors causing hand, foot, and mouth disease. Mild cases usually do not require hospitalization and can be treated and rested at home, with precautions to prevent cross-infection. For infants as young as 17 months old, whose digestive systems are not fully developed, it is recommended to avoid oral medication treatment. Whether a child will get infected again after recovery is directly related to their constitution. As long as attention is paid to details in daily life, recovery is typically possible.