Patient's question:
My child recently had hand, foot, and mouth disease. Can they be with other family members? Will it be contagious to adults?Doctor's answer:
The sources of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) are three:1. HFMD patients (i.e., individuals with the disease);
2. Asymptomatic carriers, who are infected with the virus but show no symptoms;
3. Healthy carriers, who have been exposed to the virus and carry it on their body surface or in their respiratory tracts, capable of spreading it to others.
Adults are generally the sources of infection in the latter two categories. Therefore, after returning home, adults should pay attention to handwashing, changing clothes, gargling, and ensuring indoor ventilation to avoid spreading the disease to children.