What is Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease?

  Hand, foot and mouth disease is an acute infectious disease caused by enterovirus, mostly occurs in preschool children, especially in the age group under 3 years old with the highest incidence. The main symptoms are maculopapular rash and herpes on the hands, feet and mouth, and in a few severe cases, meningitis, encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, pulmonary edema, circulatory disorders, etc. The main cause of death is severe brainstem encephalitis and neurogenic pulmonary edema. Both the patient and the latent infected person are the source of infection, which is mainly transmitted through the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and close contact.  Clinical manifestations Common cases present with acute onset, fever, scattered herpes on the oral mucosa, maculopapular rash and herpes on the hands, feet and buttocks, which may be surrounded by an inflammatory redness and less fluid within the herpes. It may be accompanied by cough, runny nose, and loss of appetite. Some cases present only with a rash or herpetic pharyngitis. The prognosis is good.  In a few cases, meningitis, encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, pulmonary edema, circulatory disorders, etc. can occur, and the condition is dangerous and can lead to death or sequelae.  1, neurological system: poor mental health, drowsiness, easily startled; headache, vomiting; limb myoclonus, nystagmus, ataxia, eye movement disorders; weakness or acute flaccid paralysis; convulsions. On examination, meningeal stimulation signs and tendon reflexes are seen to be weakened or absent; critical cases may show coma, cerebral edema and brain herniation.  2. Respiratory system: shallow respiration, dyspnea or rhythm change, lip cyanosis, oral vomiting of white, pink or bloody foamy fluid 3. Circulatory system: pale gray face, flushed skin, cold extremities, cyanosis of fingers (toes); cold sweat; increased or decreased heart rate, shallow rapid or weakened pulse or even disappeared; increased or decreased blood pressure.  There are the following abnormalities: clear appearance, increased pressure, increased white blood cells, normal or mildly increased protein, and normal sugar and chloride.  Diagnostic criteria Onset during the epidemic season, commonly seen in preschool children, infants and young children.  1., Common cases: fever with rash on hands, feet, mouth and buttocks, some cases may be without fever.  2. Severe cases: neurological involvement, respiratory and circulatory dysfunction, etc. Laboratory tests may include increased peripheral blood leukocytes, abnormal cerebrospinal fluid, increased blood sugar, and abnormal EEG, brain and spinal cord MRI, chest X-ray, and echocardiography.  In a very few severe cases, the rash is atypical and the clinical diagnosis is difficult and needs to be made in combination with pathogenic or serological examination.  If there is no rash, the clinical diagnosis of HFMD is not appropriate.