Noting that hand, foot and mouth disease, which is common in infants and children, is a disease that can be transmitted through respiratory tract, saliva, close contact and feces and has no cure, Pediatrician Dr. Tarık Ersöz, Medical Park Tarsus Hospital, said, “Hand, foot, mouth disease can mimic the flu infection.”
Stating that the hand, foot and mouth disease, which has been seen in babies and children recently and which is not known much, usually manifests itself as a throat infection, Pediatrician Dr. Tarık Ersöz, Medical Park Tarsus Hospital, gave information about the disease, which is mostly seen in the hands, face, feet, knees and hips of the body.
Fever and throat infection are the most prominent complaints
Pointing out that there is a history of admission to the emergency room or hospital with fever, it is usually diagnosed as throat infection in hand, foot, mouth disease, Dr. Tarık Ersöz said, “As a symptom of the disease, high fever, intense redness and aphthae in the tonsils, itchy and painful roughness in the hands and feet, knees and buttocks occur. At first, these lumps turn into small bubbles filled with liquid in the future.”
Pay attention to the ways of transmission
Pointing out that this disease caused by the coxsacki virus from the
enterovirus family can be easily transmitted through epidemics in summer and autumn, Dr. Tarık Ersöz warned:
“Hand, foot, mouth disease can be transmitted through the respiratory tract, saliva, close contact and feces. It can mimic a flu infection. Since the disease is a viral disease, antibiotic treatment is not effective and the disease goes away on its own within a week. It is important that the sick child is not in close contact with others during this period. With the opening of the pool season in the summer, a separate risk arises with the involuntary ingestion of pool water. The most effective method of preventing hand-foot-mouth disease is hygiene.”
Chickenpox-like blisters appear on the hands, feet, and mouth
Emphasizing that at the end of the first 3 days in children and babies infected with the disease, varicella-like, water-filled blisters around the hands, feet and mouth will attract attention, Dr. Tarık Ersöz said, “Unlike chickenpox, blisters do not form on the body, but around the hands, feet and mouth. Liquid-filled red blisters on the insides of the hands and feet, between the fingers, as well as the soles of the feet, cause both pain, ache and itching. There are sores called aphthae in the throat, and the child may have swallowing problems and loss of appetite due to this. Apart from this, redness in the tonsils, ear and throat pain, weakness can be seen.”
Causes both pain and itching
Emphasizing that the liquid-filled red lumps that cover the soles of the feet as well as the insides of the hands and feet, as well as between the fingers, cause both pain, ache and itching, Dr. Tarık Ersöz said, “Weakness and malaise are accompanied by ear and throat pain. Aphthae in the mouth and redness in the tonsils can make eating a torture.”
It can go away on its own within 10 days
Stating that antibiotics have no place in the treatment of the disease because it is a viral infection, Dr. Tarık Ersöz said, “There is no vaccine or medicine for which there is no specific treatment for the disease. In the treatment, sprays and various lotions can be used to reduce and alleviate itching. Adding to his words that the disease went away on its own within 10 days, Dr. Ersöz stated that liquid-filled red blisters on the hands and feet may dry out and leave the stain, but over time the stains will disappear and there is no need to worry.
The most important precaution should be hygiene
Pointing out that hygiene is the most important measure to protect against hand and foot disease, Dr. Ersöz made the following suggestions: “It is very important to wash hands frequently and not to rub dirty hands on the mouth and face.” Emphasizing that people with this disease should be avoided because it is contagious, Dr. Ersöz said, “It states that frequent ventilation of the environment, disinfection of hands and surfaces in places such as schools and nurseries, and compliance with the necessary hygiene rules will prevent the risk of spreading the disease.”
Loss of appetite and fatigue may occur
Stating that loss of appetite and fatigue can also be seen during the disease, Dr. Ersöz pointed out that when such effects are observed, children should be avoided as much as possible from cool foods (yogurt, pudding, ice cream, etc.) and foods that will not trigger mouth sores (spicy and hot), and that plenty of water should be consumed.
The first 7 days are critical for transmission
Emphasizing that the first 7 days of the disease is the period when the contagion is highest, Dr. Ersöz concluded, “However, the virus continues to spread through oral fluids and feces for days and weeks after the symptoms have completely disappeared. The easiest way to prevent the spread of the disease to others is to thoroughly wash your child’s hands and your own hands. It is very important to wash the hands, especially after wiping the child’s nose and changing the diaper.”
