Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

If you have never heard or seen hand, foot, and mouth disease before, you’ll certainly be shocked if your child comes down with it. The disease presents with blisters on a child’s hands, soles of the feet, and inside of the mouth. Just learning all you can about the disease will help you not panic if your child comes down with it.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a viral infection (coxsackievirus A16) . It is easily spread, which is why it is so common among daycare children, and children who attend a preschool or kindergarten class. Although anyone is capable of getting hand, foot, and mouth disease, but it is mostly seen in young children.

A complete list of symptoms include poor appetite, fever, irritability, blisters, a sore throat, and a red rash. Often the blisters are the last to appear, so you may initially think that your child just has a slight cold. In fact, it may take a week for all of the symptoms to make their debut. The good news is that if your child does end up with hand, food, and mouth disease, it is possible that he or she will most likely develop an immunity to it.

The only way to prevent hand, foot, and mouth disease is to teach your children about good hygiene. Hand washing is important. If a case breaks out in your child’s school or daycare, advocate the use of hand sanitizer.

Because hand, foot, and mouth disease is viral, there isn’t anything you can do to treat it or make it go away any faster. There are a few things you can do, however, to give your child a bit of comfort. The most important thing is that you make sure your child drinks enough fluid. Dehydration can occur because children with this disease often have a sore throat, and don’t want to eat or drink. They make popsicles with nutrients and electrolytes in them if you want to try that. Next, make sure your child gets plenty of rest. Your child’s body is better able to fight off illness if it remains in a state of rest.

Childrens over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be administered to help manage any pain that your child may be in. You can also request a prescription for Magic Mouthwash from your pediatrician. Magic Mouthwash works to numb the inside of your mouth, which will give your child relief from blisters or a possible sore throat.

References:

CDC: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

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