What is hand, foot and mouth disease? HFMD is a common infectious disease of infants and children caused by enteroviruses. There are more than 20 types of enteroviruses that cause HFMD, mainly coxsackievirus group A types 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 16 and group B types 2, 5, 13, and enterovirus 71. The population is generally susceptible to HFMD, mainly preschool children. How is HFMD transmitted? HFMD has a high rate of latent infection, and patients and latently infected persons are the main source of infection. The disease is transmitted mainly through food contaminated with feces, saliva, and pharyngeal secretions of patients, and direct contact with the patient’s punctured blisters can also transmit the virus. The feces of the patient remains infectious for several weeks. The incubation period of HFMD is generally 3 to 7 days, with no obvious prodromal symptoms, and most patients have a sudden onset of disease. About half of the patients have fever 1 to 2 days before or at the same time as the onset of the disease, mostly around 38℃, and papules or herpes appearing on four parts of the body: hands, feet, mouth and buttocks, with the “four unlike” characteristics of unlike mosquito bites, unlike drug rashes, unlike lip and gum herpes and unlike chicken pox, and clinically with the “four unlike” characteristics of no pain, no itch, no scabs and no scars. It is not painful, not itchy, not crusty and not scarred. Initially, there may be mild symptoms of upper sensation. Due to the painful oral ulcer, the child salivates and refuses to eat. Oral mucosal papules appear early, initially as corn-like papules or blisters surrounded by a red halo, mainly on the tongue and cheeks, and often on the side of the lips and teeth. Distal areas such as hands and feet appear as either flat or convex bannister papules or herpes. Dangers of HFMD The clinical manifestations of HFMD are mainly fever, sore throat, papules or herpes in the mouth, hands and feet, etc., which can heal spontaneously and do not leave scabs. Generally only symptomatic treatment is needed and the prognosis is good. A few cases may have complications such as encephalitis, myocarditis, pulmonary edema, etc. Individual critically ill patients may die due to various reasons. How to care for children with HFMD? To strengthen the care of children with HFMD, pay attention to strengthening nutrition, rest, good oral hygiene, food should be liquid and semi-liquid, avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight, prevent overexertion to lower the body’s resistance, myocarditis, encephalitis and pulmonary edema and other complications should be promptly to medical institutions for consultation and treatment. Prevention of hand, foot and mouth disease 1, the main measure to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease is to do a good job of handling the patient’s feces and other excrement. 2, hand, foot and mouth disease often occurs in infants and young children gathering places, therefore, child care institutions, schools and other units to do a good job of morning inspection, timely detection of suspected patients, timely isolation and treatment. 3, contaminated food, daily necessities, eating utensils, toys, bedding and commode items should be disinfected in a timely manner, clothing placed in the sun, keep indoor ventilation. 4. Wash your hands regularly, improve environmental hygiene, food hygiene and personal hygiene, and make sure that the disease enters through the mouth. 5, during the epidemic period, parents should let their children go to crowded public places as little as possible to reduce the chance of being infected.