Question
My child is 5 years old and has been diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth disease. Besides medication, are there any other treatment options? How have past treatments been effective? We have just returned from the hospital where they only suggested taking medication at home, but I am a bit uneasy.
Answer
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an illness caused by enteroviruses, with an incubation period typically ranging from 3 to 7 days and no obvious initial symptoms. Most patients experience a sudden onset of symptoms, primarily affecting the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks. The symptoms usually do not involve pain or itching, and scabs do not leave scars. The symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease may not all recur. Blisters and rashes typically resolve within a week. The usual methods of treating hand, foot, and mouth disease include isolation to prevent cross-infection and oral care.