Patient's question:
My daughter is 13 years old. She came back and told me that someone in her class has hand, foot, and mouth disease. I thought that at this age, one wouldn't get hand, foot, and mouth disease anymore. Could it be misdiagnosed? I asked the doctor, does a 13-year-old get hand, foot, and mouth disease?Doctor's answer:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by a viral infection. It does not discriminate by age; both adults and children can contract it. Poor hygiene is primarily related to the occurrence of hand, foot, and mouth disease. Once diagnosed, oral antiviral medications should be taken under the guidance of a doctor to treat the condition. In severe cases, intravenous infusion may be required. The typical course of the disease lasts about one to ten days. Avoid spicy and greasy foods, opt for a light diet, and drink plenty of water. It can also be complemented with traditional Chinese medicine treatments for clearing heat and detoxifying.