Patient's question:
Hello, what is hand, foot, and mouth disease? Is there a good way to treat it? Please give some advice from a doctor.Doctor's answer:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is an enterovirus disease with common characteristics of enterovirus infection. It can range from asymptomatic or mild discomfort to severe complications, even death. The incubation period is typically 2-7 days, with no obvious prodromal symptoms: most patients develop symptoms suddenly. Approximately half of the patients develop fever 1-2 days before or at the same time as the onset, usually around 38 degrees Celsius. It primarily affects four parts of the body: hands, feet, mouth, and buttocks (quadruple syndrome); due to the rash not resembling insect bites, drug eruptions, herpangina, or chickenpox, it is also known as "four" (four unlike). However, clinically, it has four distinct characteristics: painless, itchy, without crusting, and without scarring. Some patients may initially have mild upper respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, runny nose, nausea, and vomiting. The manifestations of hand, foot, and mouth disease may not all occur in the same patient.