Patient's question:
What are the symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease, and how should it be treated?Doctor's answer:
Hello: Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an infectious illness caused by several types of enteroviruses, primarily affecting children under the age of 5. Its symptoms include small grayish-white vesicles or red papules appearing on the inside of the mouth, hands, feet, and soles of the feet.Currently, there is no specific treatment for hand, foot, and mouth disease, and only symptomatic treatment and enhanced care for the child are recommended. During fever, the child should rest more, drink plenty of water, and eat soft, easily digestible foods, as well as fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins. The child's skin and hands should be washed frequently, and their nails should be trimmed short. The child's clothes and bedding should be kept clean, and scratching the rash should be avoided to prevent infection and pus formation. For broken vesicles, gentian violet can be applied. Toys and feces of the child should be disinfected.
Feverish children can also take fever-reducing oral medications, vitamin C, and antiviral traditional Chinese medicines such as Radix Isatidis and Folium Isatidis. They can also take heat-clearing and detoxifying traditional Chinese medicine preparations such as Qingwen Jiedu Wan. With proper care, the illness can often resolve on its own without medication.