Patient's question:
Baobao is one year old, and he has a rash on his hands and feet. The doctor said it's hand, foot, and mouth disease. How long does it usually take for the rash to go away? What causes it?Doctor's answer:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in children is an infectious disease caused by enteroviruses. There are over 20 different enteroviruses that can cause HFMD, among which CoxA16 (Coxsackievirus A16) and EV71 (Enterovirus 71) are the most common. HFMD typically occurs again in children under the age of 5 between May and September, lasting more than one week. Symptoms include mouth pain, loss of appetite, low fever, and the appearance of small blisters or ulcers on the hands, feet, and mouth. Most children recover within about a week, but a small number may develop complications such as myocarditis, pulmonary edema, or aseptic meningitis and encephalitis. In severe cases, the condition can progress rapidly, leading to life-threatening situations. Currently, there is no effective treatment, so symptomatic care is primarily used, along with traditional Chinese medicine for clearing heat and detoxifying.