The main symptoms of HFMD
HFMD 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 that starts as a red papule and soon turns into a blistering rash that fades within a week without leaving pigmentation, desquamation, or scars.
Common cases
Acute onset, fever, scattered herpes on the oral mucosa, maculopapular rash and herpes on the hands, feet and buttocks, surrounded by an inflammatory red halo and little fluid in the herpes. It may be accompanied by cough, runny nose, and loss of appetite. Some cases present only with a rash or herpetic pharyngitis. Most cases heal within a week and the prognosis is good. In some cases, the rash is atypical, e.g., a single site or only a maculopapular rash.
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 in about 1-5 days after the onset of the disease, and in very few cases, the disease is 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.
Severe cases of HFMD can manifest neurological involvement and acute circulatory and respiratory failure
1.Neurological manifestations
Poor mental health, drowsiness, easily startled, headache, vomiting, delirium or even coma; limb tremors, myoclonus, nystagmus, ataxia, oculomotor disorders; weakness or acute flaccid paralysis; convulsions. On examination, meningeal stimulation signs, diminished or absent tendon reflexes, and positive pathological signs such as Bartholomew’s sign can be seen.
2.Respiratory system manifestations
Shallow breathing, dyspnea or rhythm changes, cyanosis of lips and mouth, coughing, coughing white, pink or bloody foam-like sputum; wet rales or sputum sounds can be heard in the lungs.
3.Circulatory system performance
Pale gray face, skin pattern, cold extremities, cyanosis of fingers (toes); cold sweating; prolonged capillary refill time. Heart rate increases or decreases, pulse is shallow and fast or weak or even disappears; blood pressure increases or decreases.
Channels of transmission of HFMD
Hand, foot and mouth disease has a certain degree of contagiousness, and its transmission is mainly in the following ways.
1, crowd close contact is an important mode of transmission, children through contact with virus-contaminated hands, towels, handkerchiefs, tooth cups, toys, eating utensils, milk utensils, as well as bedding, underwear, etc. caused by infection.
2, the virus in the patient’s throat secretions and saliva can be transmitted through the air (droplets), so close contact with a sick child can cause infection.
3, drinking or eating water, food contaminated by the virus, infection can also occur.
Hand, foot and mouth home care 6 tips
1, because the child’s mouth 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 stove glycerin 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.