Question
What is hand, foot, and mouth disease in children, and how is it treated?
Answer
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is an infectious disease caused by enteroviruses, most frequently occurring in infants and young children. It can lead to blisters on the hands, feet, and mouth. In some cases, patients may also experience complications such as myocarditis, pulmonary edema, and aseptic meningitis. There are over 20 different types of enteroviruses that can cause the disease. The incubation period ranges from 2 to 7 days. The source of infection includes patients and asymptomatic carriers, with patients being the primary source of transmission during the epidemic period. During the acute phase of the illness, the virus can be excreted from the throat. When blisters rupture, the fluid contains a large amount of virus. After recovery, patients may still excrete the virus through their feces for several weeks. The acute onset presents with fever and oral mucosal ulcers with scattered blisters, about the size of rice grains.