Hand foot mouth disease is one of the most common infectious diseases of childhood. It can be seen in almost every age group. Fever is accompanied by skin rashes and usually resolves spontaneously within 7-10 days. The most effective prevention method is hygiene and isolation of sick children.
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How is hand foot disease transmitted?
The causative agents of hand, foot and mouth disease are coxsackievirus, echovirus and enteroviruses, which are in the enterovirus family. The disease occurs every year, especially between spring and early autumn. It is transmitted by the sneezing and coughing of the sick person, by saliva, by close contact with the skin where the lesions are, and by urine-stool. Infected pool waters are a serious source of contamination in summer.
How do we protect ourselves from hand foot and mouth disease?
The most effective method of protection from hand, foot and mouth disease is to comply with hygiene rules and isolate sick children.
Generally, the transmission rate is highest in the first week of the disease. If possible, it is recommended that the sick person stay at home in order to prevent the spread in the symptomatic period and not come into contact with sensitive people. To prevent transmission, sensitive people should wash their hands frequently with soap and water, properly disinfect frequently touched surfaces, objects and toys contaminated by contact. They should disinfect them properly, avoid using common cutlery, spoons and close contact (hugging, shaking hands). Pools suspected of being contaminated should not be used.
Sick children should not be sent to school until the lesions persist.
What are the symptoms of hand foot and mouth disease?
It is a clinical picture characterized by fever, sore throat, redness of the tonsils, ear and throat pain, loss of appetite, weakness in the mouth, aphthae in the mouth, rashes seen around the mouth, on the palms and soles.
The rash may be in the form of red, round lesions, or sometimes as fluid-filled vesicles. At the end of the first 3 days, water-filled blisters similar to chickenpox draw attention around the hands, feet and mouth. Unlike chickenpox, it does not occur on the trunk, but around the hands, feet and mouth. Fluid-filled red blisters on the palms of the hands and feet, between the fingers, as well as on the soles of the feet, cause pain, ache and itching.
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a self-limiting viral disease that does not cause severe disease. The patients recover completely with the disappearance of all the developing findings within 7 to 10 days. As a very rare complication, it can cause viral or aseptic meningitis clinic.
How is hand foot and mouth disease diagnosed?
The diagnosis of the disease is made by the patient’s anamnesis, examination and laboratory findings.
The age of the patient, the presence of similarly ill children around him, and the history of using the pool are questioned. In the examination, the characteristics of the rashes, the regional distribution of the rashes, and the clinical picture are evaluated. If more cases are seen than expected or if complications of the disease such as aseptic meningitis are suspected, laboratory diagnosis of the disease can be made from nasopharyngeal samples, fluid in the rash and stool samples.
How is hand foot and mouth disease treated?
Since it is a viral disease, antibiotics are not used in the treatment unless there is a secondary bacterial infection. Treatment is directed towards the symptoms. An antipyretic, pain reliever, mouthwash or spray for the throat can be tried to relieve symptoms. Medication may be required for itching.
It is recommended to supplement with plenty of fluids, regular nutrition, soft foods such as soup and rest.
The disease ends spontaneously in 7-10 days.