Question
My daughter is four years old and has had red spots on her hand for several days. Could it be hand, foot, and mouth disease? She’s been having a fever recently, with red spots on her body and poor sleep. We have already been vaccinated for hand, foot, and mouth disease, so why did she still get infected? Is there a problem with the vaccine? How should I treat her?
Answer
Although the hand, foot, and mouth disease vaccine can effectively prevent the disease, it cannot completely avoid infection. Vaccination can significantly reduce the risk of illness but does not guarantee complete immunity. If symptoms are not severe, patients do not need to be hospitalized and should rest at home to minimize cross-infection. Generally, the course of the disease lasts about 5 to 10 days, and most children can recover on their own. Strengthening hygiene measures can help in recovery.