Hand Foot and Mouth Disease Pictures

What is hand foot and mouth disease?

A hand foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious viral infection. It usually affects infants and children. It typical characteristics include rashes on the hands and feet and sores in the mouth. Hence, the name hand foot and mouth disease derived. ^{(1, 2, and 3)}

Hand foot mouth disease symptoms

• presence of rashes on the hand and foot (red non-itchy rashes)
• fever
• sore throat
• body malaise
• sores in the mouth (blister-like lesions on the tongue, inside the cheeks, and gums.
• loss of appetite
• irritability and restlessness ^{(4, 5)}

How long does hand foot and mouth last?

It usually takes about a week for the infection to completely resolve. Hand foot and mouth contagious period is in the first week of the infection. As a matter of fact, a person can still remain contagious for a week after the symptoms have subsided. Modes of transmission are person to person contact with an infected person's body fluids such as saliva, nasal secretion, and fluid from blisters. Respiratory droplets and getting in contact with an infected person's stool can also transmit the disease. ^{(4, 5, and 6)}

What causes hand foot and mouth disease?

Coxsackievirus A16 is the primary cause of hand foot and mouth disease. It belongs to the nonpolio enteroviruses group.

Hand foot and mouth disease in children

It is common in infants and children because of exposure to stool when changing diapers. Not to mention, children are prone to putting their hands in their mouths, which makes transmission of infection easy. ^{(6, 7)}

Who is at greater risk?

Children below 5 years old are at greater risk for infections like hand foot and mouth disease. The child develops immunity after exposure to hand foot and mouth disease, but it is also possible for adults to be infected. ^{(7, 8)}

What are the possible complications?

• Dehydration - The sores in the patient's mouth make it impossible to eat and drink normally causing insufficient food and fluid intake.
• viral meningitis - Inflammation of the meninges, which is an extremely rare complication.
• encephalitis - Another rare complication characterized by inflammation of the brain. ^{(7, 8, and 9)}

Hand foot and mouth disease treatment

There is no specific cure for hand foot and mouth disease since the disease is viral in nature. What the doctors usually do is to offer symptomatic management. Ideally, the infection clears up in a matter of a week or so. A part of the symptomatic management is giving the patient pain reliever for mouth sores and antipyretic for fever. ^{(6, 8, and 9)}

Hand foot and mouth disease home remedies

• Give the patient something cold to eat or drink to alleviate pain and discomfort in the mouth.
• Avoid eating foods that can further irritate the mouth such as salty, spicy, and sour foods.
• The patient is put on a soft diet for easy swallowing.
• Swish salt water every meal. ^{(6, 9, and 10)}

How to prevent hand foot and mouth disease?

• Make it a habit to wash your hands on a regular basis, especially after using the toilet, changing diapers, and before meals.
• Practice good hygiene.
• Stay away from highly contagious people.
• Disinfect common areas.^{(2, 6)}

References

1. https://www.webmd.com/children/guide/hand-foot-mouth-disease
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hand-foot-and-mouth-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353035
3. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hand-foot-mouth-disease/
4. https://www.healthline.com/health/hand-foot-mouth-disease
5. https://www.cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/index.html
6. http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/hfm.html
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand,_foot,_and_mouth_disease
8. https://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/hand_foot_and_mouth_disease
9. https://www.medicinenet.com/hand-foot-and-mouth_syndrome/article.htm
10. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/hand-foot-and-mouth-disease