Question
There is a one-year-old baby at home, and recently, the parents have discovered that they have contracted oral herpes. They are worried that the baby might also catch hand, foot, and mouth disease.
Answer
Adults with oral herpes do not transmit hand, foot, and mouth disease to babies. The virus that causes oral herpes is different from the one that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease, which is primarily caused by viral infection. Parents should pay attention to their baby’s personal hygiene, avoid taking the baby to crowded places, and strengthen the baby’s nutrition and physical exercise to reduce the risk of hand, foot, and mouth disease.