How to Treat Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Question

The onset was on May 12th, with blisters appearing in the mouth, hands, feet, and buttocks, and the symptoms have spread to the arms.

Answer

Unless the patient exhibits severe conditions such as lack of energy, hand tremors, seizures, rapid breathing, or blue or purple skin discoloration with persistent high fever, the number of blisters is not related to the severity of the disease. Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is mainly treated with an “observation and waiting” approach. At the same time, fever-reducing medications are used to alleviate fever, and oral sprays are applied to reduce pain. If a child consumes or ingests too little food or liquid, intravenous treatment may be necessary. In the absence of bacterial complications or if initial diagnosis does not exclude bacterial infection, antibiotics are generally not required because Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is a viral infection and antibiotics are ineffective. Close attention should be paid to the signs of severe Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease such as lack of energy, hand tremors, seizures, rapid breathing, or blue or purple skin discoloration.