The viral disease of the mouth-hand-foot It is an infection that occurs frequently in childhood, especially in children between one and five years of age, although it can also occur in older children or even adults.
It occurs with greater incidence in the months of spring, summer and early fall, and although your symptoms can be especially striking or alarming, it is a generally benign infection, although easy to spread. We explain what this disease cost, what its symptoms are and what treatment it requires.
What is mouth-hand-foot disease?
As we said at the beginning, it is a infection caused by several viruses of the enterovirus family. This means that even if our child has had it before, and his body has created immunity against that specific virus, he could regain the disease if it is caused by another virus.
What symptoms do you have?
From the moment the body comes into contact with the virus until the first symptoms begin, it can take from three days to seven; This is what is known as the "incubation period."
The disease is characterized mainly by the rash of small blisters in and out of the mouth (palate, tongue, gums, lips ...), the diaper area, the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and sometimes also the fingers. These blisters do not itch, but those located in the mouth can bother you at mealtime, and make the child more uninteresting and irascible.
Likewise, it is common for moderate fever, malaise and headache and throat.
On some occasions there can be a painless detachment of the root of the nail with its subsequent fall, as well as yellowing grooves in the nails without any importance. And in extremely rare cases Pulmonary or neurological complications may occur, such as viral meningitis or encephalitis.
From the beginning of the first symptoms until they disappear completely, it may take five to ten days.
How does spreads the disease?
Like any viral disease, contagion occurs from person to person through salivary secretions (cough, sneezing, kisses ...), although it can also occur through direct contact with the fluid in the blisters of the affected person, or with their feces (for example, during diaper change).
The disease is especially contagious during the first few days, but it can also be spread during the incubation period, or even weeks after the symptoms have completely disappeared.
Can it be prevented?
As we have commented on occasion when treating other viral diseases, prevention is quite difficult since the spread of the virus is very fast and sometimes occurs when the symptoms have not yet manifested.
However, we can apply some basic measures, such as:
Stimulate children's hygiene habits with continuous hand washing, especially after using the toilet and before eating, and also pay special attention to our hygiene after changing a child's diaper.
Frequent disinfection of toys and surfaces.
Prevent children from sharing plates, spoons or glasses, as well as food and drinks.
If the child no fever and mouth blisters do not bother you, the Spanish Association of Pediatrics finds no reason not to take the child to school or nursery school, since as we have just said, the spread of this disease may have occurred even before the onset of the first symptoms.
In Babies and more 11 tips to prevent your children from catching a coldTreatment
This sickness has no vaccine or specific treatment, and the only thing we can do if it appears is to treat the discomfort caused by the symptoms:
Increase the hydration and rest
Control the fever and administer anti-thermal agents if necessary
Turn to pain relievers if there is pain or discomfort
Treat nail injuries with hygiene and hydration
Being a viral disease, the use of antibiotics is not indicated in these cases.
