Patient's question:
The child has been experiencing mouth ulcers again these past few days, and also has red small rashes on their hands and feet. It seems to be hand, foot, and mouth disease. What are the symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease?Doctor's answer:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a condition caused by enteroviruses, which share common characteristics of enterovirus transmission. The general symptoms include: an acute onset with a latent period of 3-5 days, followed by prodromal symptoms such as low fever, general malaise, and abdominal pain. The oral mucosa may develop scattered painful papules or vesicles ranging in size from millet to green beans. The rash on the hands and feet appears as maculopapules and vesicles, which are not like insect bites, medication rashes, oral or gingival herpes, or chickenpox—hence the name "four" (unlike these four). Some patients may initially experience mild upper respiratory symptoms such as cough, runny nose, nausea, and dry vomiting.