Hand foot and mouth disease is a viral disease that usually affects children. It is characterized by high fever, loss of appetite, sore throat and abdomen, followed by skin rashes. Within a few days, fluid forms inside the blisters and they burst into open skin sores. It is a highly contagious disease that can spread rapidly in kindergartens and schools and can be confused with many other diseases due to its symptoms. There is no treatment for the disease, it goes away on its own. To prevent the disease, close contact with children who have the disease should be avoided.
Hand foot and mouth disease is characterized by high fever, red throat and skin rash. In young children, the hands, feet and wrists are completely red. Later on, the skin rash resembles chickenpox, with blisters that turn to liquid and disappear within a week.
Caused by the coxsacki microbe from the enterovirus family, this disease can easily be transmitted through epidemics during the summer and fall seasons. Because it is a microbial disease, antibiotic treatment does not help and the condition disappears on its own within a week. During this time, the affected child should not be in close contact with other people. The best way to avoid getting hand and foot disease is to be hygienic. It can occur in all age groups, but is more common in children under 10 years of age. There is no clear treatment for the condition.
What are the Causes of Hand Foot and Mouth Disease?
In general, there are two types of viruses that cause the disease. These viruses are called coxsackievirus A16 and enterovirus 71. An individual can get this disease through contact with a person carrying the virus or when they come into contact with an object such as a toy or door handle that is infected with the virus. The virus can spread easily during the summer and fall seasons. We can list the causes of hand and foot disease as follows;
- Saliva
- Liquid formed in bubbles
- Great ablution
- After coughing and sneezing, the droplets spread rapidly.
What are the symptoms of foot and mouth disease?
Early symptoms of hand foot and mouth disease manifest themselves as fever and tonsil pain. Large blisters on the skin are seen in and around the child's mouth or on the tongue. After the first symptoms, the child develops rashes on the hands, palms and soles of the feet that last for 1-2 days. These rashes develop into fluid-filled blisters.
Rashes also appear on the knees, elbows and buttocks. The child may have all or only two of these symptoms. Other symptoms include eating problems, fatigue, unhappiness and headaches.
How is hand foot and mouth disease diagnosed?
Thediagnosis of hand foot and mouth disease can be easily made by the specialist by learning the patient's problems and physical examination results. These are generally sufficient for the diagnosis, but a throat culture test, stool or blood test is required for a definitive diagnosis.
How is hand foot and mouth disease treated?
Hand foot and mouth disease passes on its own after a period of 7-10 days. There is no need for any treatment. There is no drug treatment or vaccine for this viral disease. Some methods can be applied to alleviate the symptoms of hand foot and mouth disease treatment.
It is necessary to use painkillers, antipyretics and other pills prescribed by the specialist regularly. Aspirin should not be used because aspirin causes more serious disorders in young children.
What is good for hand foot and mouth disease?
Cold foods such as ice, ice cream, cold water can be consumed, these foods have soothing properties for sore throat. Hard foods damage the throat, cold summer soups should be consumed instead of hard foods. These healthy foods are necessary to strengthen the immune system.
The specialist recommends creams and lotions for itching. These lotions should be applied regularly. Applying coconut oil to the reddened and blistered parts can also speed up healing.