Patient's question:
The child has a fever today. Moreover, when he opened his mouth, I saw white bubbles in his throat. I'm quite worried that he might have hand, foot, and mouth disease. However, there were no bubbles on his hands. I took him to the hospital for a check-up. The doctor said it was herpangina. What are the differences between herpangina and hand, foot, and mouth disease?Doctor's answer:
Herpangina only causes blisters in the throat, but during hand, foot, and mouth disease, blisters appear on the hands, feet, and mouth. The viruses and infection routes are similar. Treatment mainly involves supportive care, as there are no specific antiviral medications. During the outbreak of the disease, children need a gentle and smooth diet, avoiding spicy and irritating foods. They should consume more vitamin-rich foods. High fever should be treated with physical or medication-based cooling to prevent febrile seizures.