Every year from April to September is the high incidence of hand, foot and mouth disease, before the arrival of the high season, what should mothers do to keep their babies away from hand, foot and mouth disease? Here’s a piece to find out.
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The main symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease mostly occurs in preschool children, with the highest incidence within 4 years of age. The main symptoms of HFMD are oral ulcers, pain, bad breath, salivation, refusal to eat, anorexia, irritability, low or moderate fever, pharyngeal congestion, swollen tonsils, and a rash on the heart of the hands and feet, first as a red papule that soon turns into a blistering rash, which can fade within a week without leaving pigmentation, flaking or scars. The symptoms of “blister rash” can make some parents think it is chicken pox, often delaying the disease.
In fact, the two diseases are easy to distinguish, hand, foot and mouth disease in addition to the hands and feet of other parts of the body generally no rash, while chicken pox is systemic. Depending on the severity of the disease, the performance of hand, foot and mouth disease symptoms vary.
Common case manifestations
The main thing is the appearance of herpes on the hands, feet, oral mucosa and inside the lips. Sometimes it may also appear on the buttocks, inner thighs, perineum, knees, elbows, etc. Also, babies with HFMD may have irritability, cough, headache, runny nose, crying, drooling, and anorexia.
Presentation of severe cases
In a few cases (especially those younger than 3 years old), the disease progresses rapidly, with meningitis, encephalitis (brainstem encephalitis is the most dangerous), encephalomyelitis, pulmonary edema and circulatory disorders appearing around 1-5 days after the onset of the disease, and very few cases are critical and can lead to death. Severe cases may show neurological involvement and acute circulatory and respiratory failure, with a high incidence under 3 years of age.
What exactly is HFMD?
HFMD is commonly known as an enterovirus infection (EV71), an infectious disease caused by an enterovirus that occurs in children under 5 years of age and can cause herpes on the hands, feet, and mouth. Several viruses have been identified that can cause HFMD.
What is HFMD transmitted through?
It is mainly transmitted by contact. For example, it is transmitted through indirect contact with hands, towels, handkerchiefs, tooth cups, toys, eating utensils, milk utensils, as well as bedding and underwear contaminated with saliva, herpes fluid, feces, etc. It can also be transmitted through droplets, such as the virus in the patient’s throat secretions and saliva.
Adults can also transmit hand, foot and mouth disease to babies! A mother reported that when she was caring for her sick baby, her own hands also had herpes, and she was surprised that adults could also get HFMD? Adults can also be infected with the virus that causes HFMD, but adults have a strong immune system and milder symptoms, usually only herpes on the hands and feet will not be feverish, and some even have no symptoms. However, these adults can become carriers of the HFMD-causing virus, which can be transmitted to children.
If you have a child with HFMD at home, it is best for the adult in charge of care not to touch other children; during the high incidence of HFMD, it is best for parents to wash their hands first when they return from outside, especially before touching the child’s food.
When should I go to the hospital?
If it is very mild, the child’s general condition is very good, there is no bad spirit, drowsiness, difficulty in breathing or fatigue and weakness, pale face and other such serious conditions, general home care is possible. Most children, generally about 7 days can gradually recover, at home you can give the child some light, easy to digest food, drink more plain water.
But if it is serious, you should go to the hospital without delay, and let the doctor confirm the diagnosis. If the child has papules or herpes in the mouth, hands, feet, anus, etc., parents should take the baby to the hospital, whether or not there is a fever, so that the doctor can confirm whether it is hand, foot and mouth disease, and if it is confirmed, the doctor will do the registration of infectious diseases. Babies with milder symptoms can be cared for at home in isolation to avoid spreading the disease to other children. Those who are suspected of having severe symptoms may be kept in the hospital for observation or hospitalization.
What do I need to pay attention to in home care of HFMD?
1, because the child’s mouth is ulcerated, pain, so the diet as light as possible, to liquid food is most appropriate, avoid eating spicy, hot, fatty, indigestible products.
2, pay attention to personal hygiene, keep the mouth clean, ulcers can be wiped with light salt water, local spray on the throat wind or watermelon cream, etc.. If the oral mucosal ulcers are obvious, you can sprinkle Similac powder on the trauma to promote the repair of the local mucosa.
3, hand and foot heart herpes can not be used unsterilized needle picking, should be its own subside, in order to avoid secondary infection. You can use topical glycolic lotion to converge the sore and stop itching, and if the herpes breaks down, you can use chrysin eye ointment or Bactrim ointment to apply to the broken area.
4, can be appropriate with dietary therapy, such as carrots, horseshoes, bamboo cane boiled lean meat soup or bamboo leaves rolled heart with rock sugar decoction for tea.
5, once the child appears chest tightness, shortness of breath, fatigue, like sighing and other symptoms, should be alert to the presence of concurrent myocarditis, must be immediately to the hospital.
6, if the child suddenly vomits, neck straightening, or even limb convulsions, for signs of concurrent central nervous system infection, should be promptly treated to avoid delaying the condition.
Can hand, foot and mouth disease make children produce antibodies to the virus?
Since there are more than 20 types of viruses that cause HFMD, there is no cross-immunity between them, which means that a child who has just gotten HFMD may get infected with another virus and get sick again. In addition, even if the same type of virus in the body to produce immunity does not last, much less lifelong immunity. The possibility of repeat infection in babies is high.
However, he suggested that the attitude of mothers towards HFMD should be “don’t be overly nervous, don’t take it lightly”, after all, 90% of babies are mildly ill, and only about 10% may be seriously ill.
What is the most powerful disinfection?
Many mothers ask, now is the high incidence of hand, foot and mouth disease, I do not know how to disinfect the home is the most “powerful”? Xu Yixing explained that the disinfectant used for HFMD disinfection is chlorine disinfectant, but it should be used sparingly in the home because it is more irritating to the skin. Although the use of ordinary hand sanitizer can not kill the virus, but can reduce the attachment of the virus. For toys and clothing can be washed and often put in the sun to dry, the pathogens of HFMD are very sensitive to ultraviolet light and can be easily killed. He suggests that the commonly used 75% medical alcohol is not lethal to the HFMD virus.
Can you still take your child downstairs to play during extraordinary times?
Many parents keep their children at home during the HFMD season and let them play on the balcony with the windows open, in order to be able to get some sun. They do not dare to take their children outside to play. In fact, outdoor activities are perfectly fine as usual, just don’t go to crowded, crowded, unventilated places. The air is circulating outside and the sun is shining, so it is very safe for children to play there.
How to prevent is the key!
Hand, foot and mouth disease is transmitted in many ways, infants and young children are generally susceptible to infection, as parents, how to prevent your baby from getting hand, foot and mouth disease?
1, to develop good hygiene habits, before meals, after the stool, after going out to use hand sanitizer or soap, etc. to wash your child’s hands, do not let your baby drink raw water, eat raw and cold food.
2, caregivers should wash their hands before touching the child, changing the child’s diaper, and after handling the child’s stool.
3.Avoid contact with children suffering from HFMD, and do not take your baby to public places where people gather and air flow is poor during the epidemic.
4.Keep the home environment hygienic, the living room should be ventilated frequently, and dry clothes and blankets regularly.
5, when the baby appears related symptoms to go to medical institutions in a timely manner.
Hand, foot and mouth disease “can be prevented and treated, the emphasis is on prevention, wash hands, drink boiled water, eat cooked food, diligent ventilation, sun exposure” is the 15-word policy to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease, we keep in mind, to develop good hygiene habits, you can effectively prevent the occurrence of hand, foot and mouth disease.