Question
A 15-month-old child has contracted hand, foot, and mouth disease, experiencing fever and blisters on the hands and feet. Although the child has received intravenous treatment, the symptoms recurred a few days later. The question is whether there are any other treatment options available.
Answer
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is mainly treated by waiting for the patient to recover naturally. During this time, measures can be taken to relieve the child’s discomfort, such as using fever-reducing medication to lower body temperature, sprays to alleviate oral pain, and ensuring the child consumes enough fluids and food. Antibiotics are generally not recommended unless there is a secondary bacterial infection or if bacterial infection was not ruled out during the initial diagnosis, as hand, foot, and mouth disease is a viral infection and antibiotics are ineffective. Intravenous treatment is used to replenish fluids and energy, not to treat viral infections. Attention should be paid to whether the child exhibits symptoms of severe hand, foot, and mouth disease, such as poor spirits, hand tremors, seizures, rapid breathing, or pale complexion.