What to do if you come into contact with a child with HFMD

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease among children caused by intestinal infections. Contact with children with hand, foot and mouth disease, first of all should wash their hands, develop good habits, avoid re-contact with the affected children, and pay attention to closely observe whether there is a fever and rash, if necessary, through drug treatment, children of the appropriate age are recommended to receive vaccination against hand, foot and mouth disease. 1. Hand washing: HFMD is mainly transmitted through fecal-oral transmission and respiratory droplet transmission. After contacting the hands, toys and tableware of HFMD patients, it is necessary to pay attention to washing hands in time and avoiding putting hands into the mouth in order to reduce the risk of contagion, and at the same time, it is necessary to avoid re-exposure to HFMD pediatric patients. 2. Life regulation: pay attention to personal hygiene habits, wash your hands before and after meals, eat a diet rich in vitamins and high-quality protein foods, such as carrots, oranges, milk, fish, etc., do not drink raw water, do not eat raw food, and appropriate exercise to strengthen the body’s resistance and immunity. At the same time, open the windows regularly to ventilate the air and keep the indoor air fresh. 3. Pay attention to observation: Children’s resistance is low, especially children under 3 years old have the highest incidence rate. The incubation period of HFMD is 3~5 days on average. If the patient has fever, malaise, rash and herpes on the mucous membranes of the hands, feet, mouth, buttocks and other parts of the body, he/she should consult the doctor in time. 4. Medication: Once diagnosed with HFMD, the patient should actively cooperate with the doctor’s treatment. Commonly used drugs include recombinant human interferon, ribavirin and other antiviral drugs. For patients with fever, drugs such as ibuprofen should also be used as appropriate. After contact with a child with HFMD, parents should pay attention and avoid contact with the affected child again. In addition, for children aged 6 months to 2 years, they should be actively vaccinated against HFMD and avoid going to crowded places during the peak season.