When a child has a fever and a sore throat, it's reasonable to assume that it has one of the many cold-like illnesses. However, parents are often unaware that these symptoms may also indicate hand, foot and mouth disease. This Health Tip explains what that is and how it differs from other colds or flues.
Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) gets its name from the blisters in the mouth and the reddish spots on the hands and feet. It has nothing to do with the foot and mouth disease that affects cattle, sheep and pigs. This is caused by another family of viruses.
Symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease
HFMD starts out resembling a cold or flu, with fever, loss of appetite and a sore throat. In most cases, painful blisters soon form in the mouth, mainly on the tongue, roof, inner cheek and gums. Somewhat later, red spots or blisters appear on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet and sometimes on the buttocks, causing mild pain and/or itching. The genital area, elbows or knees can also be affected.
How do children get infected?
HFMD is highly contagious. It's passed on through aerosols during close contact with an infected person, through excretions by an infected person, or from touching a contaminated surface. While the symptoms usually take between three and seven days to appear, it can take up to 14 days in some cases. The most contagious period is at the onset of the disease, but the viruses can still be excreted in the stool for weeks and lead to infections.
Interestingly, most people have no symptoms at all but are contagious nonetheless. Different members of the same virus family can cause HFM disease, and you can therefore catch it more than once during your lifetime. It generally affects children, but adults can also catch it in rare cases. There are no special precautions for pregnant women, but the risk of severe symptoms is highest in during the first two weeks of a newborn's life.
In this video you'll find valuable tips for treating hand, foot and mouth disease from Dr Silke Schmitt Oggier, Medical Director of the santé24 online practice (in german).
What helps against hand, foot and mouth disease
There is no cure for HFM disease, but it is possible to alleviate the symptoms. This means using medicines to lower the fever and relieve the pain and itching – and applying pain-relieving gels or mouthwashes for the discomfort in the mouth. Choice of foods and drinks is also important.
The younger the child, the more important it is to make sure that, despite difficulties with eating and drinking, they get enough fluids, sugar and salt.
Liquids as well as soft, cool and bland foods (e.g. ice cream or cold tea) are best.
No citrus: it's too acidic.
No food that is hot, spicy or hard to chew.
