What Are the Symptoms of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease?

Question

What Are the Symptoms of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease?

Answer

The main symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease include an acute onset, fever, scattered vesicles on the oral mucosa that are millet-sized and painful; vesicles on the palms or soles that are also millet-sized, with the buttocks or knees occasionally affected. The vesicles have an inflammatory red halo around them, with less fluid inside. Some children may also experience symptoms such as coughing, runny nose, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and headache. The disease is self-limiting, with most cases having a good prognosis and recovering within a week without any sequelae. In rare cases, it can lead to serious complications such as meningitis, encephalitis, myocarditis, flaccid paralysis, and pulmonary edema. Currently, there is no specific treatment drug available; generally, symptomatic treatment is provided.