Patient's question:
I’ve been very confused recently. My baby is a two-year-old boy, and he has developed several small blisters on his hands and also on his tongue. At first, there were only a few blisters, but now there are more and more. I initially thought it was heat rash due to the hot weather, but over the past few days, the baby has been crying a lot. When we went to the hospital, they said it’s hand, foot, and mouth disease. I’d like to ask if infants can get hand, foot, and mouth disease?Doctor's answer:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common illness among children. Parents should not be overly anxious or worried about it. Taking the child to the hospital for routine treatment and proper diet is key. Of course, daily attention should be paid to good hygiene habits for children, such as washing their faces with soap after going outside, after touching toys, before and after meals. It is best to avoid children coming into contact with other sick children, which helps prevent them from getting sick. The small sores on the hands and feet will not itch. Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a contagious illness caused by enteroviruses, primarily affecting children. The treatment for hand, foot, and mouth disease is most effective with traditional Chinese medicine's antiviral effects. It generally involves oral medication and oral patches, and the disease typically resolves without complications within about a week, with a good prognosis. It is recommended to enhance care, wash the face with warm water, and avoid cold, spicy, or salty foods to prevent pain.