Patient's question:
My youngest daughter has been frequently getting infected with colds and getting sick since she started attending kindergarten this year. Her physical immunity is relatively weak. Recently, she got infected with hand, foot, and mouth disease again. After getting sick, she didn't go to school and was taken care of at home. However, her older brother is also at home, and this disease can potentially be transmitted to older children and adults. How contagious is it? I'm very worried about cross-infection, so I've kept her food and water cups separate.What kind of help I need: Can hand, foot, and mouth disease be transmitted to adults?
Doctor's answer:
Hello: Considering hand, foot, and mouth disease is an intestinal virus disease with an incubation period of generally 3-7 days and no obvious prodromal symptoms. Most patients develop symptoms suddenly. It primarily affects the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks. There is usually no pain or itching, and no scars are left after healing. It is generally not easily transmitted to adults, but it is possible if the adult has a weakened immune system. Therefore, it is important to note that hand, foot, and mouth disease is a viral infection and requires isolation to prevent cross-infection. Oral care, appropriate fever reduction, and antiviral treatments such as Radix Isatidis and Isatis indigotica should be provided, along with increased fluid intake.