Patient's question:
The child has blisters all over their hands and mouth. Could it be a severe case of hand, foot, and mouth disease?Doctor's answer:
It could be hand, foot, and mouth disease, which is a viral infection and is contagious. Before the onset of hand, foot, and mouth disease, there are some prodromal symptoms, mainly flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, cough, and runny nose. Some cases may have gastrointestinal symptoms, such as poor appetite, nausea, and vomiting. During the illness, the main manifestations are rashes on the hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks. Oral mucosal rashes appear earlier, initially as maculopapules or vesicles, mainly located on the lips and tongue. Maculopapules or vesicles can also appear on distal areas, such as the hands and feet, without pain or itching.