Hand, Foot And Mouth Disease In Children

1/. HFMD is what ?  

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is an acute infectious disease caused by a virus, characterized by fever, sore throat, and lesions on the oral mucosa and host skin. Weakness in the form of water bubbles, appearing concentrated in: palms, soles, knees, buttocks or other locations. The characteristics of these skin lesions are usually non-itching, painless, and most often do not leave scars when healed.  

– The disease is common in infants and children under 5 years of age, a few in adults. The disease usually occurs year-round, but peak outbreaks are around February to April and September to December. 

– Most of the cases are mild and self-healing. However, in some cases, the disease has rapid and severe progression that can lead to death due to complications: Encephalitis, Meningitis, Respiratory failure, Myocarditis. Therefore, parents need to pay special attention to early detection of diseases, sending their children to medical facilities, complying with instructions for treatment, care and monitoring for warning signs of serious illness, take preventive measures for children.  

2/. What is the cause of the disease? 

 The group of viruses that cause disease is enterovirus, the two most common agents are Coxsackievirus A16 (A16) and Enterovirus 71 (EV71). A16 causes more disease, but the disease is usually mild, with few complications and usually resolves on its own, EV 71 is less common than A 16 but causes more severe disease, more serious complications, and can be fatal. 

3/. Is hand, foot and mouth disease contagious? By which way? 

 – The disease is capable of spreading quickly through the digestive and respiratory tract, through contact with: 

 * Nasopharyngeal secretions (saliva, nasal discharge, sputum, …)  

* Discharge from the blisters.  

* Respiratory droplets are released into the air after coughing or sneezing.  

* Waste from the patient’s body (such as feces).  

* Contact with objects contaminated with the virus from an infected person such as toys, doorknobs, and then bring them to eyes, nose, mouth.  

* Contact through the hands of friends, caregivers.  

– Due to rapid transmission, hand, foot and mouth disease is easy to break out into a large epidemic. When a child is sick, if there are no timely prevention and treatment measures, the surrounding children will be at very high risk of infection. 

4/. How to detect disease early? 

 Children have the following symptoms: they are fussy, refuse to eat, have a lot of saliva in their mouths, have contact with children with hand, foot and mouth disease. Water blisters on mouth, palms, legs, knees, buttocks, elbows. 

 5/. Symptoms signaling serious illness: 

 – High fever over 39°C, high fever that is difficult to lower or fever for more than 2 days.  

– Startled: At the beginning of sleep or just lying down (parents should learn to detect this symptom).  

– Shivering, shaking people. 

 – Walk unsteadily. 

 – Weak limbs.  

– Exhausted breathing. 

 – Vomiting a lot.  

– Stimulating constant fussiness.  

6/. Symptoms of the disease are very severe: tired breathing, cottony skin, cold sweat, coma, …  

7/. Treatment: 

 – There is no specific treatment. Symptomatic treatment and supportive care are key. 

 – Most children with hand, foot and mouth disease will usually be able to recover on their own within 7-10 days, except for cases with severe complications. 

 – About 90% of children are monitored and treated at home. Children with mild hand, foot and mouth disease can be treated and cared for at home according to the doctor’s prescription, but need to go for a follow-up appointment to promptly detect complications. Proper care of the child will help the treatment process to be most effective, minimizing the risk of dangerous complications. 

 – Notes on taking care of children at home are as follows:  

– Isolation: Do not go to school, do not go to crowded places for 10 days.Give your baby soft or liquid foods. 

 – Reduce pain, reduce fever.  

– Make sure to drink enough water.  

– Body hygiene, oral hygiene.  

– Do not arbitrarily give your baby antibiotics without the instructions of the doctor.  

– Regularly monitor to detect severe signs.  

*Seek immediately when there are warning signs that may be serious illness.  

*Go to hospital as soon as signs are severe or very severe.  

8/. What to do to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease:  

• Wash your child’s hands often with soap and water. 

•  Adults must also wash their hands, especially before coming home, before coming into contact with children. 
•  Avoid contact with people who are sick or have signs of suspected hand, foot and mouth disease. 

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