Patient's question:
In recent days, hand, foot, and mouth disease has been spreading too severely. Most of the patients in the hospital are there for hand, foot, and mouth disease. How should we prevent our babies from getting hand, foot, and mouth disease?Doctor's answer:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is generally mild, and most patients usually first experience fever symptoms. Small red spots and blisters appear on the palms and soles of the hands and feet (with redness around the blisters), and blisters and/or ulcers may appear on the oral mucosa, causing significant pain. Some patients may also have symptoms such as coughing, runny nose, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, and headaches. A small number of patients may develop severe conditions, such as encephalitis, meningitis, myocarditis, or pneumonia, which can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.Hand, foot, and mouth disease has multiple transmission routes and is primarily spread through close contact with a patient's feces, blister fluid, and respiratory secretions (such as droplets from coughing). It can also be transmitted through contaminated hands, towels, handkerchiefs, tooth cups, toys, utensils, bottles, and bedding.
Currently, there is no vaccine for hand, foot, and mouth disease, but it is entirely preventable and treatable with early detection and prompt treatment.