Patient's question:
The baby next door has hand, foot, and mouth disease. They have many red rashes. Are they itchy? What other symptoms might they experience? Will it be fatal?Doctor's answer:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a viral infection that causes a contagious illness in children. It typically occurs in children under the age of five. The general symptoms include fever and rash, but the rash is never itchy. The disease is divided into mild and severe types. Mild cases usually recover well with a good prognosis. In rare severe cases, it can lead to secondary complications such as myocarditis, encephalitis, etc., which may be life-threatening. Hand, foot, and mouth disease poses a significant threat to children, so it is recommended that family members take the child to a specialized clinic for follow-up treatment and seek medical guidance for care. In daily life, it is beneficial to give children some juice, which helps with digestion and vitamin absorption, and can prevent stomach issues. We hope the child can recover quickly!