Foot and mouth disease is a common childhood infectious disease caused by a variety of human enteroviruses, which mostly occurs in children under 5 years old, especially infants and children under 3 years old, and can occur throughout the year, with April to September being the most common months. When children are infected with the virus, they usually start with a fever, usually around 38°C. The fever is accompanied by a rash in the mouth, hands, feet and buttocks, or a herpes in the oral mucosa.
Most cases can recover within 7 to 10 days after symptomatic treatment. A few cases, especially children infected with EV71 virus, can develop meningitis, encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, pulmonary edema, etc. The condition is dangerous and can lead to death or sequelae. In order not to affect the health of young children, we hope that parents pay great attention to active prevention.
1, the four ways of transmission of hand, foot and mouth disease
(1) Children spread through contact with virus-contaminated hands, towels, handkerchiefs, tooth cups, toys, eating utensils, milk utensils and
Bedding, underwear, etc. cause transmission;
(2) The virus can also be transmitted by air (droplets) from the throat secretions and saliva of the child;
(3) Drinking or eating water or food contaminated with the virus can also cause transmission;
(4) Outpatient cross-infection and poor disinfection of oral instruments can cause transmission.
2.How to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease
(1) Develop good personal hygiene and eating habits, wash hands before and after meals, and bathe regularly.
(2) Drink boiled water, do not drink raw water, do not eat cold food, leftover food should be heated before consumption.
(3) Parents should take their children to crowded public places as little as possible, especially to avoid contact with other children with fever and rash diseases to reduce the chance of being infected.
(4) Pay attention to the proper nutrition of the child, let the child rest well and get proper sunlight to strengthen their immunity.
(5) Pay attention to the cleanliness of the family’s interior and exterior, expose the clothes and bedding of family members to the sun, and frequently ventilate the room where the child lives.
(6) Kindergartens should do morning physical examinations, and if suspected patients are found, they should be promptly isolated for observation and treatment.
(7) Kindergartens should wash and disinfect toys and utensils daily to reduce indirect contact transmission.
(8) Strengthen food and environmental hygiene to reduce the spread of HFMD through food and places.
3.What should parents do if their children have fever, rash and other symptoms?
(1) Go to a regular hospital as soon as possible.
(2) Suspend going to kindergarten to avoid infecting others and prevent re-infection with other diseases. Depending on the doctor’s recommendation, decide whether to stay in the hospital for observation or hospitalization.
(3) Families of affected children should disinfect everyday items, toys and diapers with 84 disinfectant, chlorine disinfectant, and boil and disinfect milk utensils and dishes. The child’s feces and other excreta can be disinfected with disinfectant or bleach; expose clothes to the sun and keep the room ventilated.
(4) In places where young children live and study collectively, do morning physical examinations, and if you find children with fever or rash, ask parents to take their children to a regular hospital immediately, and report to the local health center or the city CDC.