Question
My child is three years old and had a fever of 38.7 degrees two days ago. The hospital diagnosed it as hand, foot, and mouth disease. After treatment, the fever returned to normal and has not recurred. However, today there are blisters on his hands and red spots on his feet, not very noticeable.
Answer
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an infectious disease caused by enteroviruses, most commonly affecting children under the age of 5. It can cause blisters on the hands, feet, and mouth, and in some cases, can lead to complications such as myocarditis, pulmonary edema, and aseptic meningitis. Without complications, hand, foot, and mouth disease generally has a good prognosis and most patients recover within a week. The treatment principle is mainly symptomatic. Antiviral drugs and herbal medicine for clearing heat and detoxification such as ribavirin, banlangen (Chinese herb), and vitamins B and C can be taken. Patients with complications may receive intramuscular injections of gamma globulin. During the illness, it is important to strengthen the child’s care and maintain good oral hygiene. It is recommended to rinse the mouth with saline solution or warm water before and after meals, and to consume non-irritating foods like liquids and semi-liquids.