Patient's question:
Doctor, my son is 8 years old. I heard recently that a classmate in his class has hand, foot, and mouth disease, and I'm worried he might get infected too. Yesterday, I noticed some red rashes on his hands and feet. Could this be hand, foot, and mouth disease? What are the early symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease?Doctor's answer:
Hello, besides the red rashes on the hands and feet, do you have any other symptoms? Hand, foot, and mouth disease usually has a rapid onset, and may include symptoms such as fever, mouth pain, loss of appetite, scattered vesicles or ulcers on the oral mucosa, maculopapular rashes on the hands, feet, buttocks, and limbs, which later turn into vesicles. The vesicles may have an inflammatory red halo around them, with less fluid inside. The bones and muscles are most commonly affected. Finally, I wish you a speedy recovery.