Patient's question:
Red rashes on hands, feet, buttocks, and mouth, accompanied by fever and cough. I thought it was a common cold and took medication, but the hospital examination confirmed it was hand, foot, and mouth disease. What should I do?Doctor's answer:
The treatment principles for hand, foot, and mouth disease primarily focus on symptomatic treatment. Antiviral medications, heat-clearing and detoxifying traditional Chinese herbal medicines, vitamin B, and vitamin C can be taken. Patients with complications may receive intramuscular injections of gamma globulin. During the illness, children should receive enhanced care, and oral hygiene should be maintained. Saline solution or warm water can be used for mouth rinsing before and after meals. Liquids and semi-liquid foods that are not irritating are suitable for consumption. Hand, foot, and mouth disease can lead to complications such as myocarditis, encephalitis, meningitis, and flaccid paralysis.