What is Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ?

What is Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common viral illness that usually affecs infants and children younger than 5 years old. Eventhough it always affect younger sometimes it could occur in adults.
It is caused by viruses that belong to the Enterovirus genus. This group of viruses includes polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses and enteroviruses.
Hand, foot and mouth disease is often confused with foot and mouth disease, a disease of cattle, sheep and swine. However the two diseases are caused by different viruses and are not related.
Humans do not get the animal disease and animals do not get the human disease.

There are steps to reduce the risk of getting hand, footh and mouth disease :-

– Is moderately contagious.
– Mostly affects 10 years of age children.
– Not the same as foot and mouth disease
– Infection risk can be reduced by practicing good hygiene such as washing hands frequently.

Symptoms of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

– Begin with a fever, malaise (feeling vaguely unwell), sore throat and poor appetite. A couple of days after fever, painful sores will develop in the mouth. A skin rash with flat or raised red spots can also develop on the palms of the hands and of the feet. SOme people infect with HFMD may only have a rash.

Hand, foot and mouth prevention

A person can lower their risk of being infected by

• Washing hands often with soap and water especially after changing diapers and using the toilet.
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and soiled items, including toys.
• Avoiding close contact such as hugging, kissing or sharing eating utensils or cups with people with hand, foot and mouth disease.

Hand, foot and mouth disease treatment

There’s a treatment such as :-

• Taking over-the-counter medications to relieve pain and fever (Caution: Aspirin should not be given to children.)
• Using mouthwashes or sprays that numb mouth pain

 

Hand, foot and mouth complication

The complication includes :

• Viral or “aseptic” meningitis can occur with hand, foot, and mouth disease but it is rare. It causes fever, headache, stiff neck, or back pain.
• Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) can occur, but this is even rarer.
• Fingernail and toenail loss have been reported, occurring mostly in children within 4 weeks of their having hand, foot, and mouth disease. At this time, it is not known whether nail loss was a result of the disease. However, in the reports reviewed, the nail loss was temporary and the nail grew back without medical treatment.

Reference :- CDC