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Hand-Foot-And-Mouth Disease |
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Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a mild illness caused by a virus. Symptoms of the disease include a sore mouth and small blisters that may occur in the mouth, on the palms of the hands, or on the soles of the feet. Human hand-foot-and-mouth disease is not related to hoof and mouth disease in cattle.
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease affects toddlers primarily, but may occur at any age. It appears most often in warm weather, usually in the summer or early autumn. It often occurs in small epidemics in pre-schools or childcare centres. It is not unusual for more than half of the children in a school or childcare centre to have the disease at any one time. The risk of contracting hand-foot-and-mouth disease can be reduced by frequent hand washing and by avoiding exposure to others who have the disease. Most adults are thought to have become immune to hand-foot-and-mouth disease in early childhood. However, as with most infectious diseases, pregnant women should consult their physician if exposed to hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Symptoms of hand-foot-and-mouth disease appear 3 to 6 days after exposure and may include: - a mild fever of 37.5-39 degrees
- loss of appetite
- a sore mouth and
- a general feeling of weakness or tiredness
Within a day or two, small blisters develop. These blisters may range in size from minute to no larger than a green pea. A small area of redness surrounds them. An individual can have 2 or 3 of these blisters, or up to 30 or more. HAND-FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE BLISTERS GENERALLY APPEAR: - in the mouth (with some forming shallow, painful ulcers)
- on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet (for most pre-school children and about 10 percent of adults) and
- on the buttocks, upper arms, upper legs, or genitals (although less often in these areas)
Blisters located outside the mouth generally do not cause itching or pain. The disease is usually mild and lasts only a few days to a week. Most blisters disappear without ulcerating or cracking. If the mouth is sore, avoid eating or drinking citrus and salty or spicy foods. There is no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth disease. The only medication doctors usually recommend is an over-the-counter analgesic such as paracetamol (Panadol) or ibuprofen (Nurofen). Article #4739 Copyright (c) 2002 McKesson. All Rights Reserved. |
