Symptoms
The onset of the disease is characterized by cold-like symptoms, with a fever that may last 4 to 5 days. A painless rash or watery rash may appear on the palms of the hands, feet, and sometimes buttocks. Painful ulcers may be present in the mouth, causing difficulty in swallowing and therefore loss of appetite. These blisters and rashes usually resolve within 7 to 10 days. Complications are uncommon. Only in rare cases does the disease cause viral meningitis.
How it's spread
HFMD is spread mainly through food contaminated with the patient's feces. The virus is also spread by direct contact with the blisters that are pierced by the patient. Patients are most likely to transmit the disease to others during the first week of illness, and feces from patients remain contagious for several weeks.
Incubation period
The incubation period is 3 to 7 days.
Treatment
In most cases, the fever, rash, and ulcers resolve spontaneously within 1 week, and the patient usually recovers completely. There is no effective treatment for this disease, but symptomatic therapy can be used to relieve the fever and the pain caused by the ulcers. Wash hands immediately after handling nasal and throat discharges, feces and soiled objects. Parents should bring their children to the doctor as soon as possible if they have a high fever, loss of energy, or if their condition worsens.
Prevention
The most important thing you can do to prevent HFMD is to pay attention to personal hygiene.
1. Maintain good air circulation.
2. Wash your hands before meals, after bowel movements, and after handling diapers or other items soiled with feces.
3. Keep your hands clean and wash them the right way.
4. Wash your hands immediately after they have been soiled by respiratory secretions (e.g. after sneezing).
5. Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing. When sneezing or coughing, cover your mouth and nose, and clean the secretions from your mouth and nose properly.
6. Children's toys and other items should be washed frequently and thoroughly.
7. Children should be kept at home until the fever and rash have subsided and all blisters have scabbed over before returning to school.
8. Reduce visits to crowded places.
8. Reduce visits to crowded places.