Patient's question:
In the morning, I noticed red rashes on the baby's hands. I went to the hospital for a check-up, and the doctor said it was hand, foot, and mouth disease. What exactly is hand, foot, and mouth disease?Doctor's answer:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an intestinal infectious disease that commonly affects infants and young children under the age of 5. It is caused by multiple different viruses, and the severity of the condition can vary. The typical symptoms include fever and rash, which often appear on the palms, soles of the feet, oral mucosa, and around the anus. This disease is self-limiting, with mild cases not requiring special treatment, while severe cases may lead to complications such as severe pneumonia and encephalitis, or even be life-threatening. The peak season for outbreaks is from May to July each year. Prevention primarily involves maintaining good personal hygiene and household cleanliness, and avoiding taking children to crowded places.