Patient's question:
Yesterday morning, I noticed small blisters on my child's face. I didn't realize the problem and started applying medicine. Today, the blisters have increased significantly. I went to the hospital for a thorough examination and was diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth disease to prevent transmission. Can hand, foot, and mouth disease be infected?Doctor's answer:
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is currently quite common in clinical diagnosis, primarily affecting infants and young children. It is caused by enterovirus transmission and is highly contagious. The incubation period of the disease is 2 to 7 days, and the sources of infection include patients and asymptomatic carriers. During outbreaks, the disease spreads through various means, primarily through close contact among people. The virus can be transmitted indirectly through contaminated hands, towels, handkerchiefs, tooth cups, toys, utensils, feeding utensils, bedding, and underwear, among other items. Patients are the main source of infection. During the acute phase of the illness, patients can excrete the virus from their throats. The virus in the throat secretions and saliva of patients can spread through droplets. Therefore, we should pay attention to regular sterilization, opening windows for ventilation, and maintaining a suitable temperature.