Question

A 6-year-old child has red dots on their hands, similar symptoms of oral ulcers in the mouth, and red bumps on the buttocks. I would like to inquire if these symptoms are indicative of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease? There are no abnormalities observed on the feet.

Answer

The typical symptoms of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease include acute onset, fever, scattered blisters on the oral mucosa, and maculopapular rashes on the hands, feet, and buttocks. The rash may have an inflammatory erythema around it with less fluid in the blisters. Symptoms may also include coughing, runny nose, and decreased appetite. Some cases may only present as rashes or pharyngitis with vesicles, while some cases may have atypical rashes, such as those appearing only on a single site or only as maculopapular rashes.