Question
My child is three years old, has had a low fever for a day, and now has a rash. There are small blisters in the mouth and a few on the body. The child’s spirit and appetite are normal. What medication should be taken for hand, foot, and mouth disease?
Answer
Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes differential diagnosis and treatment for hand, foot, and mouth disease. For patients in the acute stage with symptoms such as low fever or no fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat pain, or decreased appetite, the “Yin Qiao Powder” formula can be used; if there is persistent high fever, dense rashes on the mouth, hands, feet, buttocks, and limbs, the “Qing Wen Bai Du Drink” formula is appropriate; if complications such as persistent high fever and frequent coughing with shortness of breath occur, the “Yu Jiao Xiang Huang Wan He Shen Fu Decoction” formula can be used. During the recovery period of the disease, for children with dry mouth and throat pain, Shashen Mai Dong Soup can be added with raw rehmannia and lu gen to nourish yin and generate fluid, clear heat, and moisten the throat. If the child has blisters in the mouth, choose one of the following to apply to the affected area: Shuangxiang San (Watermelon Frost), Bingping San (Ice Phosphorus Powder), or Xilai San (Tin Powder); for severe hand and foot blisters, use one of Ruyi Jinhuang San (Orchid Gold Powder) or Qingdai San (Indigo Powder), mixed with sesame oil to apply to the blisters.