How to Handle Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Children?
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is a common contagious illness in children, especially those under 5 years old. It often spreads during the rainy season and is frequently seen in kindergartens or daycare centers. The severity can range from mild to very severe. Today, we provide tips for parents on how to observe symptoms and properly care for their children.
Dr.Onsuree Boonyaviwat, our pediatric allergy and immunology specialist and Director of Pediatrics at Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin, shares that Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is caused by the Enterovirus group, which includes several strains, and the Coxsackie virus. Most cases are mild, but if caused by Enterovirus71 or EV71, it can be severe and even fatal.
How Does Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Spread? This disease spreads through the digestive and respiratory systems. It can be transmitted directly by contact with an infected person’s mucus, saliva, and feces. It can also spread indirectly through contaminated toys, caregiver hands, water, and food. The incubation period is about one week, so it can spread before symptoms appear.
The symptoms of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease begin with an incubation period of 3 to 7 days after the virus enters the body. Patients typically first develop a high fever of 38 – 39 degrees Celsius, followed by other symptoms within 1 – 2 days, including a sore throat, runny nose, reduced appetite, fatigue, sores on the cheeks and roof of the mouth, red spots or clear fluid-filled blisters on the hands, feet, around the buttocks, and genital areas. Rashes may also appear on the body, arms, and legs. Symptoms usually last for 2 – 3 days and then improve, resolving within a week.
Children with this disease typically have mild symptoms and can usually recover without treatment. However, in some cases where they eat very little, they may become dehydrated and require hospital care. Severe cases are rare but can occur, often due to the EV71 virus, causing symptoms like brain inflammation, respiratory failure, and circulatory collapse, leading to rapid death. Therefore, if a child has a high fever, lethargy, weakness, trembling hands, stumbling, excessive vomiting, difficulty breathing, or seizures, parents should quickly seek medical attention.
How is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease treated? Generally, there are no specific antiviral medications for this disease and symptoms typically improve gradually. Doctors treat based on symptoms, such as providing fever relief. In cases of severe weakness, hospitalization may be necessary for intravenous fluid therapy and administering fever and pain medications, mouth ulcer treatments, and antibiotics if needed, along with close monitoring for serious complications.
Vaccination for Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is now available, specifically targeting the severe EV71 strain. It’s recommended for children aged 6 months to 5 years and 11 months to build immunity and prevent dangerous complications that can be life-threatening. The vaccination involves two doses, with the second dose given one month after the first.
This vaccine is highly effective, with a 97.3% success rate in preventing Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease caused by the EV71 virus. It also prevents 88.0% of cases requiring hospital treatment and is 100% effective against severe cases. Possible side effects include pain, swelling, redness, itching at the injection site, fever, nausea, diarrhea, and headache, although these are rare. However, this vaccine cannot prevent Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease caused by other Enterovirus strains, including Coxsackie Virus A16 and others.
“Parents should take care of their children’s hygiene by teaching them proper handwashing, using soap or hand sanitizer, cleaning toys, and ensuring the cleanliness of drinking water and food. They should avoid sharing items like water bottles and refrain from taking children to crowded places during outbreaks. If a child has Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, they should stay home and rest until fully recovered to prevent spreading the infection. Parents should inform the school, watch for any unusual symptoms, and promptly seek medical attention if necessary.” Dr.Onsuree concluded.
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For more information, please contact :
Pediatric Clinic, Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin, 3rd floor Tel. 032-616-883 (8.00 – 19.00 hrs.)
Call Center Tel. 032-616-800
How Does Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Spread? This disease spreads through the digestive and respiratory systems. It can be transmitted directly by contact with an infected person’s mucus, saliva, and feces. It can also spread indirectly through contaminated toys, caregiver hands, water, and food. The incubation period is about one week, so it can spread before symptoms appear.
The symptoms of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease begin with an incubation period of 3 to 7 days after the virus enters the body. Patients typically first develop a high fever of 38 – 39 degrees Celsius, followed by other symptoms within 1 – 2 days, including a sore throat, runny nose, reduced appetite, fatigue, sores on the cheeks and roof of the mouth, red spots or clear fluid-filled blisters on the hands, feet, around the buttocks, and genital areas. Rashes may also appear on the body, arms, and legs. Symptoms usually last for 2 – 3 days and then improve, resolving within a week.
Children with this disease typically have mild symptoms and can usually recover without treatment. However, in some cases where they eat very little, they may become dehydrated and require hospital care. Severe cases are rare but can occur, often due to the EV71 virus, causing symptoms like brain inflammation, respiratory failure, and circulatory collapse, leading to rapid death. Therefore, if a child has a high fever, lethargy, weakness, trembling hands, stumbling, excessive vomiting, difficulty breathing, or seizures, parents should quickly seek medical attention.
How is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease treated? Generally, there are no specific antiviral medications for this disease and symptoms typically improve gradually. Doctors treat based on symptoms, such as providing fever relief. In cases of severe weakness, hospitalization may be necessary for intravenous fluid therapy and administering fever and pain medications, mouth ulcer treatments, and antibiotics if needed, along with close monitoring for serious complications.
Vaccination for Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is now available, specifically targeting the severe EV71 strain. It’s recommended for children aged 6 months to 5 years and 11 months to build immunity and prevent dangerous complications that can be life-threatening. The vaccination involves two doses, with the second dose given one month after the first.
This vaccine is highly effective, with a 97.3% success rate in preventing Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease caused by the EV71 virus. It also prevents 88.0% of cases requiring hospital treatment and is 100% effective against severe cases. Possible side effects include pain, swelling, redness, itching at the injection site, fever, nausea, diarrhea, and headache, although these are rare. However, this vaccine cannot prevent Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease caused by other Enterovirus strains, including Coxsackie Virus A16 and others.
“Parents should take care of their children’s hygiene by teaching them proper handwashing, using soap or hand sanitizer, cleaning toys, and ensuring the cleanliness of drinking water and food. They should avoid sharing items like water bottles and refrain from taking children to crowded places during outbreaks. If a child has Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, they should stay home and rest until fully recovered to prevent spreading the infection. Parents should inform the school, watch for any unusual symptoms, and promptly seek medical attention if necessary.” Dr.Onsuree concluded.
*********************************************************************************
For more information, please contact :
Pediatric Clinic, Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin, 3rd floor Tel. 032-616-883 (8.00 – 19.00 hrs.)
Call Center Tel. 032-616-800