Question
My baby has been experiencing diarrhea again for the past 5 days, along with a loss of appetite and a fever. There are also rashes on the skin. We took the baby to the hospital for treatment as hand, foot, and mouth disease, but the diarrhea persists until today. The baby’s spirits are a bit better than before, but the appetite isn’t very good. Later, the doctor said that the baby’s diarrhea might be due to catching a cold. I want to know if hand, foot, and mouth disease can cause diarrhea.
Answer
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease can cause diarrhea. The incubation period for this disease is generally 3-7 days and it often occurs suddenly. The main symptoms include the appearance of blisters and rashes on the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks, which usually do not cause pain or itching. These symptoms typically subside within a week. Since blisters in the mouth can cause pain, children may refuse to eat, so it is recommended to encourage them to drink plenty of water to ensure adequate hydration and help reduce fever. If children exhibit abnormal conditions such as persistent high fever, loss of appetite, restlessness, tremors in the limbs, frequent vomiting, etc., they should seek medical attention promptly.