WHAT IS HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE?
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a contagious and common viral infection during summer and early fall. It is common in children less than five years of age. However, it can occur at any age.
This condition completely differs from foot and mouth disease found in livestock!
HOW IS HFMD SPREAD?
An infected child is most contagious in the 1st week of illness. However, the sick child sheds the virus from the nose and mouth for 1-3 weeks and from the stool for weeks to months.
HFMD is spread by:
1. Contact with droplets from an infected person when they sneeze, cough, or talk. Fluid from blisters due to the disease also spreads the virus.
2. Person-to-person contact by kissing, hugging, etc.
3. Contact with stool from an infected person and then touch your face, eyes, or mouth. E.g., while changing diapers
4. Touching contaminated surfaces, i.e., fomites like toys, utensils, door knobs, etc.
WHAT VIRUSES COMMONLY CAUSE HFMD?
Most of the viruses that cause HFMD are in the enterovirus family. The common ones are the coxsackie A16 (most common cause), coxsackie A6, and enterovirus 71.
WHAT ARE THE MANIFESTATIONS OF HFMD?
It takes 3-6 days from exposure to the disease to the manifestations of symptoms.
The various symptoms include:
. Fever.
. Sore throat
. Runny nose.
. Mouth sores.
. Skin rash on palms and soles. Most are like raised red spots and blisters.
TREATMENT FOR HAND, FOOT, AND MOUTH DISEASE
Treatment is supportive.
There is no antiviral medication for this. Antibiotics are not needed because this infection is viral, not bacterial.
The various supportive treatments include:
- Pain control using the prescription sent by the child’s pediatrician (magic mouthwash) or over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
- Hydration: ensure the child drinks lots of fluids. Most children infected with this virus are hospitalized frequently due to dehydration. Avoid acidic juices and beverages.
- Give softer foods.
HOW TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF HFMD
1. Hand washing frequently.
2 Avoid close contact with sick people.
3. Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.
4. Clean and disinfect the areas and items the sick child touches, like toys.
WHEN CAN THE CHILD RETURN TO SCHOOL OR DAYCARE?
Your child can return to school after a week when the blisters are dried and the fever resolves.
There is no long-term or lifelong immunity to these viruses. Hence, your child can get reinfected multiple times with the same viral strains. So prevention is key!
HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER!
OUR KIDS DOC 
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