Patient's question:
Yesterday, my son came home from school and said that a classmate had hand, foot, and mouth disease. He also noticed bubbles on his own hands, which were quite big but not extremely large. Upon examination, there were more small red spots, and he also had them in his mouth and on his toes. He went to the First People's Hospital for a check-up, and the doctor diagnosed him with hand, foot, and mouth disease. How should hand, foot, and mouth disease be cared for?Doctor's answer:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is very common in children. There are over 20 different types of enteroviruses, with Coxsackievirus A16 and Enterovirus 71 being the most common. It often recurs in children under the age of 5, presenting symptoms such as mouth pain, loss of appetite, low fever, and the reappearance of small blisters or ulcers on the hands, feet, and mouth. Physical isolation is necessary, and attention should be paid to the hygiene of the rash. It is strictly forbidden to pull or scratch the blisters. Topical ribavirin spray can be used for antiviral treatment.