Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease: Which Organs Are Affected and What Symptoms Indicate Organ Involvement? Do You Need Intravenous Treatment?

Question

Which organs can Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease affect? What symptoms indicate that other organs have been affected? Do I need intravenous treatment? It’s the third day of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease. There are blisters and red spots in the oral cavity, but there has been no high fever. I went to the outpatient clinic on the first day, and the doctor prescribed ribavirin granules, pediatric sore throat granules, and ceftriaxone. What was the previous treatment situation? Seeking professional medical advice, do I need to go to a designated Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease hospital for a follow-up visit? Do I absolutely need intravenous treatment?

Answer

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is an infectious disease caused by enteroviruses. It primarily manifests as mouth pain, loss of appetite, low fever, and small blisters on the hands, feet, and mouth. Most cases are mild. In rare cases (especially in children under 3 years old), the disease can progress rapidly with symptoms appearing within 1-5 days of onset. This may include meningitis, encephalitis (especially brainstem encephalitis is most dangerous), poliomyelitis, pulmonary edema, and circulatory disorders. In very rare cases, severe illness can lead to death. Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease requires treatment in a hospital with an infectious disease department or a hospital with an infectious disease ward.