Patient's question:
I've been sick for four days. At first, I had a fever of 37.7 for two days, then it went away. Blisters appeared on my hands, feet, and mouth. I went to the hospital yesterday, and the doctor said that this condition doesn't require hospitalization—just some antiviral medication will do. Is that really true? Isn't this situation serious? UrgentDoctor's answer:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is an infectious disease caused by enteroviruses, primarily affecting infants and young children. It can cause blisters on the hands, feet, and mouth, and in some cases, lead to complications such as myocarditis, pulmonary edema, and aseptic meningitis and encephalitis. HFMD is widely distributed and shows no obvious regional patterns; it can occur in all seasons, with higher incidence during summer and autumn. This disease often presents as outbreaks followed by scattered cases. During outbreaks, kindergartens and daycare centers are prone to collective infections, while families may also experience clustered cases. The disease is highly contagious with complex transmission routes, capable of causing large-scale epidemics in a short period.