What you need to know about Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in children

Has your little one been feeling a little sick for the past two or three days? Are you complaining of a slight reluctance to eat or drink, a fever, and a slight body ache? Then suddenly you notice small red blisters on their palms and soles. There are also small sores inside their mouth. It's normal for any parent to be scared when they see something like this. But don't worry. This could be what we often call 'Hand, Foot and Mouth' disease, or Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), a very common viral infection among young children. Today, we'll talk about everything simply and clearly.

What is Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease?

Simply put, it is a viral illness that is usually not serious. It gets its name from the fact that the main symptoms of the disease are blisters and sores on the hands, feet, and inside the mouth. However, despite the name, these blisters can also appear on other parts of the body, such as the knees, elbows, buttocks, and genitals.

This disease is most common in children under the age of 5. If your child goes to a Montessori or daycare center, you've probably heard of this disease. It spreads very quickly in places where young children gather together. However, older children and adults can also get this disease. Sometimes, adults may not show symptoms at all. Since there are several types of viruses that cause this disease, it is possible to get this disease more than once .

The best thing is, this usually gets better within 7 to 10 days without any special treatment .

What are the symptoms of this disease?

The symptoms of this disease usually appear in two stages, just like two parts of a story.

Usually, all of these symptoms disappear completely within 7-10 days. However, in children under 2 years of age, it may take a few days longer for the virus to clear from the body.

Why does this disease occur? What is the cause?

This disease is caused by several types of viruses belonging to two groups of viruses. These mainly belong to the groups `(Coxsackievirus)` and `(Enterovirus).` These types of viruses can live in our digestive system, that is, from the mouth down. Therefore, this virus can be present in the saliva, mucus, urine and feces of an infected person.

Is this a contagious disease? How does it spread?

Yes, this is a very contagious disease. It is most contagious during the first few days after the illness. Sometimes, a child can start spreading the disease to others even before the blisters appear.

These are some of the main ways this disease spreads:

• By inhaling tiny droplets that become airborne when an infected person coughs or sneezes .
• By touching the saliva or feces of an infected person and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes with those dirty hands.
• By directly touching the blisters on the skin of an infected person.
• By kissing or hugging someone who has the infection.
• By sharing things like cups, dishes, towels, and clothes that have been used by an infected person.
• By touching surfaces such as toys and doorknobs that are contaminated with the virus and then touching your mouth and nose with the same hand.

Are there any complications that I should be afraid of?

This is something that many parents fear. But in reality, serious complications from this disease are very rare . But it's good to know.

• Dehydration: This is the main thing we need to be concerned about. The child may refuse to eat or drink due to painful sores in the mouth. This can lead to dehydration. If the child has not urinated for about 6-8 hours, if the mouth and lips are dry, or if there are no tears when crying, it may be dehydrated.
• Nail loss: Some children may lose one or more of their fingernails or toenails a few weeks after they recover from the illness. Don't worry about this. The nails will grow back normally.
• Viral Meningitis and Encephalitis: These are very rare, but serious complications . This is when the virus affects the brain or the coverings of the brain. If you have symptoms like high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, or seizures, you should seek medical attention immediately. But again, these conditions are very rare.

How is the disease diagnosed? What are the treatments?

Usually, a doctor can easily diagnose this disease by examining the sores in the child's mouth and the blisters on the hands and feet. Special tests are often not necessary.

Now let's get to the treatment. Remember, this is a viral disease, so there is no specific medicine for it . Antibiotics cannot cure this disease, because antibiotics only work on bacteria.

So what do we do? What we do is relieve the symptoms. We help the child feel comfortable.

Treatments you can do at home

• For fever and pain: Give a pain reliever such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen in the prescribed dosage as recommended by your doctor. Do not give aspirin to children for any reason. It can cause a serious condition called `(Reye's syndrome)`.
• For mouth sores:
• Give them cold things to drink. Things like water and milk are good. Giving them ice pops is also a good idea.
• Avoid giving hot and spicy foods . Acidic fruit juices like oranges and grapefruit can also cause pain to mouth sores.
• For older children, gargling with salt water can help relieve sore throat and mouth pain.
• For skin blisters: These usually dry up on their own. If your child is scratching a lot, ask your doctor about an ointment for them.

When can I send my child back to school/Montessori?

This is a problem that many parents have. Usually, the child,

• If there is no fever,
• If he feels well, and
• If the blisters on the skin have dried up and no new blisters are forming,

You can send him back to school. If you have any doubts about this, it is best to ask your doctor for advice.

How can we prevent the spread of this disease?

Cleanliness is the most important thing here. Following these simple practices can go a long way in controlling the spread of this disease.

• Wash your hands frequently: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially after using the toilet, changing your child's diaper, before preparing food, and before eating. Teach your children this habit too.
• Cleaning surfaces: Clean frequently touched items such as toys, doorknobs, and tables with disinfectant frequently.
• Avoid sharing personal items: Teach your child not to share things like cups, plates, eating utensils, and towels with others.
• Covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing: It is a good habit to cough into your elbow.
• Keeping infected children away from others: If your child is sick, keep them home from Montessori or school.

When should you definitely see a doctor?

Although this condition is usually treatable at home, in some cases it is essential to seek medical advice. Be aware of the following symptoms.

• If the child completely refuses to drink fluids or shows signs of dehydration (not urinating for hours, dry mouth, lethargy).
• If the fever lasts more than three days .
• If there is no improvement in symptoms after 10 days .
• If the child has another medical condition that weakens the immune system .
• If the child develops unusual symptoms such as a severe headache, stiff neck, or seizures (these may be signs of very rare complications).

Some other common questions about this

Don't adults get this disease?

It can develop. But it is not as common as in children. Many adults infected with this virus do not show symptoms. If symptoms do appear, they are similar to those seen in children.

Is this the same as 'foot and mouth disease' that affects animals?

No. These are two completely different diseases. Foot-and-mouth disease, which affects animals (such as cattle, goats, and pigs), is caused by a different virus. It is not contagious to humans. Similarly, hand, foot, and mouth disease, which affects humans, is not contagious to animals.