What Should You Know About Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease?

In the United States, Hand, foot, and mouth disease is most rampant during the summer and fall. However, one can still get it at any time of the year. The disease is wildly common in children and the close quarters of a school or daycare only accelerate the spread of the infection. Hand, foot, and mouth disease tends to affect children more than adults, but it is not entirely impossible for an adult to contract the virus. What’s probably worse is that most adults are asymptomatic but can act as carriers.

Physician dispensing for urgent care usually provide over-the-counter painkillers and calamine lotions to treat the condition.

Particulars of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

Definition

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by the coxsackievirus a16 and the enterovirus 71. It is more common in children below the age of 5 but is capable of infecting any age group. As the name already suggests, the disease affects an individual’s hands, feet, and mouth. The affected develop painful blisters in their mouth including rashes along their limbs, hands, and feet. In some more severe cases of HFMD, they may also develop rashes in the back, belly, buttocks, and genitals.

Symptoms

The disease is marked by sudden onset. For the first couple of days since exposure, the person will experience a mild fever, sore throat, runny nose, and loss of appetite. 1-2 days after the initial symptoms, rashes and blisters start developing on the hands, feet, and mouth. The blisters worsen throughout the week and subside only after 7-10 days. A child might also have flat spots or sores around their elbows and knees.

Children will also display malaise, fatigue, and irritability.

Transmission

The HFMD virus resides in the infected bodily fluids -

  • Saliva

  • Mucus secretions

  • Fluid from the blisters

  • Fecal matter

A person can transmit the virus by -

  • Coughing or sneezing. The respiratory droplets when inhaled by another transmits the disease to them.

  • Kissing, hugging, or sharing the same utensils. Close contact with a sick person is another way the virus can enter your body.

  • Touching the infected person’s bodily excretions. This can take place when you’re changing your toddler’s diapers.

  • Contact with infected surfaces. Your child’s toys, bedding, or even a doorknob they touched can transmit the virus.

Treatment

Strangely even after being a fairly common ailment, HFMD has no specific treatment. The viral nature of the disease means it doesn’t respond to antibiotic courses either. HFMD will run its course in 7-10 days and disappear on its own.

See a doctor, the physician dispensing for urgent care will give you pain killers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen to soothe your child’s discomfort.

REFRAIN FROM USING ASPIRIN IN KIDS. The virus coupled with the drug can cause a condition known as Reye’s Syndrome in children.

For the mouth sores and raw throat, you can give them cold yogurt, smoothies, or icecreams. Stay away from juice or soda, since the acid present may irritate the sore.

The itchiness of the rashes can be taken away using calamine and other anti-itch lotions.

Physician Dispensing in Oklahoma

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**Disclaimer: The information on this page is not intended to be a doctor's advice, nor does it create any form of patient-doctor relationship.

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