Patient's question:
7 years old, a few days ago, there was something like a blister at the tip of the right index finger, but the adults didn't pay attention. Today, another blister-like thing appeared on the tip of the right index finger, and there's also something like a blister on the thumb of the foot. It's very painful, crying and unable to sleep at night. Hello doctor, this is about the hands...Doctor's answer:
Disease is also known as exanthematous stomatitis, which is an acute infectious disease caused by enteroviruses. It can be contracted through daily contact with patients of hand, foot, and mouth disease or by drinking water contaminated with industrial waste. After onset, patients usually recover within one to two weeks without leaving any ( means sequelae or aftereffects), although a very small number of people may experience complications such as encephalitis or aseptic meningitis.Advice: Based on your description, there is a possibility of hand, foot, and mouth disease. Check if other children around have similar symptoms. If so, it should be highly suspected. The specific clinical symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease can be summarized as follows:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease can occur in all four seasons, with higher prevalence in summer and autumn. Initially, symptoms resemble upper respiratory infections, such as fever, cough, runny nose, and drooling. Some children may also experience nausea and vomiting. Later, oval or spindle-shaped vesicles appear on the back of the hands and feet, surrounded by a red rim. The fluid in the vesicles is clear, and their long axis aligns with skin creases. The vesicles then become concave, turn yellow, dry out, and peel off (desquamate). Additionally, scattered hard, pale red papules or vesicles may appear on the fingertips and toes. Meanwhile, in the mouth—such as on the lips, tongue, oral mucosa, and gums—scattered vesicles may also form. However, these oral vesicles rupture quickly, forming grayish-white spots or a grayish-white film, surrounded by a red rim. Under the grayish-white film, one may observe point-like or patchy erosion.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by viral infection, with the source being vesicular fluid, throat secretions, and feces. Contaminated industrial waste, toys, and utensils can also serve as transmission routes. Its incubation period is 3–8 days.
Care and Management: Currently, there is no highly effective treatment for this disease, but the following measures can help alleviate symptoms:
1. Take antiviral medications, such as ribavirin or virazole.
2. Maintain local cleanliness to prevent secondary bacterial infections.
3. If the child has difficulty eating due to oral lesions, provide easily digestible liquids and encourage rinsing the mouth after meals.
4. Apply oxytetracycline fish oil locally to reduce pain and promote healing of erosions.
5. Take B vitamins orally, such as vitamin B2.
6. If fever occurs, use traditional Chinese medicine with heat-clearing and detoxifying properties.
The disease usually resolves within 1–2 weeks without leaving any ( means sequelae or aftereffects). However, it does not provide lifelong immunity, meaning the disease can recur later.
Prevention: During summer, when the disease is prevalent, try to minimize children’s visits to public places. Teach them good hygiene habits, such as washing their faces before meals and after using the toilet. Disinfect toys and utensils regularly. Early detection, treatment, and isolation are crucial. If the disease spreads in a daycare center or kindergarten, first isolate the affected child from healthy children, disinfect toys with a disinfectant solution, and give healthy children oral (banlangen chongji, a herbal preparation) for prevention.
Wishing your baby good health and strong growth!