Patient's question:
Several children in my child's kindergarten have contracted hand, foot, and mouth disease, and there has been a recurrence of the infection. I am worried about my child getting infected and would like to ask if there is a vaccine for hand, foot, and mouth disease?Doctor's answer:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common intestinal infectious disease in infants and young children. Its transmission routes include feces, hands, and mouth. Typical symptoms include mouth pain, poor appetite, low fever, and small blisters or ulcers on the hands, feet, and mouth. In terms of incidence, children under the age of 5 are most affected. The incubation period is 2-10 days, with an average of 3-5 days. Currently, there is no vaccine for hand, foot, and mouth disease, but this does not mean the disease cannot be prevented. Caregivers should not only frequently wash their faces but also pay attention to their own hygiene. Because if parents are infected with the virus, they may not necessarily get sick themselves, but they can spread the virus to their children. Items used by children should be cleaned and disinfected in a timely manner, such as diapers should be cleaned, exposed to sunlight, or sterilized; baby bottles and nipples should be thoroughly cleaned before and after use; children's toys, tableware, and other items should also be cleaned and disinfected daily.