Patient's question:
The child often suffers from many minor ailments, and recently has started to dislike eating dinner. Many small blisters have appeared in their mouth. The doctor said it's a symptom of hand, foot, and mouth disease. I want to know how hand, foot, and mouth disease is transmitted?Doctor's answer:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an infectious disease caused by enteroviruses, commonly occurring in children under the age of 5. It manifests as mouth pain, loss of appetite, low fever, and the recurrence of small blisters or small ulcers on the hands, feet, mouth, and other areas. The rash appears on the same day or the next day and becomes fully visible within 1-2 days. Initially, rose-colored macules or papules may appear, followed by the formation of vesicles after one day. The rash primarily appears as papules on the hands, feet, buttocks, arms, and legs, which then transform into vesicles. The vesicles are oval-shaped with minimal fluid inside and dry into dark brown crusts within 2-4 days. After healing, they leave no trace or discoloration. Small vesicles or ulcers may also appear on the oral mucosa. Oral vesicles are prone to rupture, causing ulcers, pain when eating, refusal to defecate, and excessive drooling in affected children.