08/08/2025
MyPedia's Parenting TIPS (Tricks, Inspirations, Practices & Skills) ❤️💫👨👩👧👦👶🏼
ALL ABOUT HAND, FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE
❓What is hand, foot and mouth disease?
Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common, highly contagious, infectious disease that mainly affects infants and children. Caused by entero and coxsakie viruses, it is characterized by fever, painful sores in the mouth, and a rash with blisters on hands, feet and also buttocks, just as the name suggests. It is prevalent in many Asian countries.
This year, I came across a number of cases. Children under the age of 5 are especially at risk. It can sometimes occur in older children and adults. Hospitals and clinics around the city are also seeing lots of cases and the bad thing is that it spreads very quickly and easily.
It is spreading especially quickly in Davao City. Kids that attend daycare or pre-schools are especially at risk!!!
❓Is it the same as foot-and-mouth disease in animals?
No, HFMD is not to be confused with foot-and-mouth (also called hoof-and-mouth) disease which is caused by a different virus and affects cattle, sheep, and pigs.
❓Where does HFMD occur?
Individual cases and outbreaks of HFMD occur worldwide. In tropical and subtropical countries, outbreaks often occur year-round.
❓WHAT ARE ITS SIGNS & SYMPTOMS?
It usually starts with
* A fever
* Reduced appetite
* Sore throat
* A feeling of being unwell (malaise)
One or two days after the fever starts, painful sores can develop in the mouth (herpangina). They usually begin as small red spots, often in the back of the mouth, that blister and can become painful.
A skin rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet may also develop over one or two days as flat, red spots, sometimes with blisters. It may also appear on the knees, elbows, buttocks or ge***al area.
When they get blisters in their mouth, they may resist eating and drinking. This could lead to dehydration which is also very serious in children. Especially in the Philippines, where weather has been erratic and temperatures may rise.
Children mostly catch this disease but adults can also get sick. Unfortunately, there is no treatment because it is a virus. If your children have been exposed to Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, unfortunately, you have to just let it runs its course and monitor them closely.
📍You also need to keep your sick child away from others, LET THEM STAY AT HOME, because of how highly contagious this disease is. Luckily, it is generally not that serious and does not hold a risk of many complications except dehydration.
People with HFMD are most contagious during the first week of their illness. However, they may sometimes remain contagious for weeks after symptoms go away. Some people, especially adults, may not develop any symptoms, but they can still spread the viruses to others.
❓WHERE DO YOU GET HFMD?
The viruses that cause HFMD can be found in an infected person’s:
🔺Nose and throat secretions (such as saliva, sputum, or nasal mucus)
🔺HFMD spreads from an infected person to others from:
🔺Close contact, such as kissing, hugging, or sharing cups and eating utensils
🔺As it is airborne, Coughing and sneezing
🔺Contact with p**p, for example when changing a diaper
🔺Contact with blister fluid
Generally, a person with hand, foot, and mouth disease is MOST CONTAGIOUS during the FIRST WEEK of illness. People can sometimes be contagious for days or weeks after symptoms go away.
Some people, especially adults, may become infected and not develop any symptoms, but they can still spread the virus to others. This is why people should always try to maintain good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing, alcogels, so they can minimize their chance of spreading or getting infections.
It is also possible to get infected with the viruses that cause hand, foot, and mouth disease if you swallow recreational water, such as water in swimming pools. However, this is not very common. This is more likely to happen if the water is not properly treated with chlorine and becomes contaminated with f***s from a person who has hand, foot, and mouth disease.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is NOT transmitted to or from pets or other animals.
❓IS HFMD TREATABLE?
There is no specific treatment for hand, foot, and mouth disease. However, you can do some things to relieve symptoms:
🔹Take over-the-counter medications like paracetamol to relieve pain and fever (Caution: Aspirin should not be given to children.)
🔹Use mouthwashes or sprays that numb mouth pain.
🔹 Some may prescribe anti-virals and immuno-boosters.
If a person has mouth sores, it might be painful for them to swallow. However, it is important for people with hand, foot, and mouth disease to drink enough liquids to prevent dehydration (loss of body fluids). If a person cannot swallow enough liquids to avoid dehydration, they may need to receive them through an IV in their vein.
❓ARE COMPLICATIONS COMMON?
Health complications from hand, foot, and mouth disease are NOT common.
🔸Viral “aseptic” meningitis can occur with hand, foot, and mouth disease, but it is RARE. It causes fever, headache, stiff neck, or back pain and may require the infected person to be hospitalized for a few days.
🔸Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or polio-like paralysis can occur, but this is even RARER.
🔸As with my sons and neices, fingernail and toenail loss have been reported, occurring mostly in children within a few weeks after having hand, foot, and mouth disease. However, the nail loss is temporary, and the nail grows back without medical treatment.
❓WHAT ARE STEPS TO TAKE TO LESSEN YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING SICK
1. Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after changing diapers, and help young children do the same.
2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
3. Avoid close contact such as kissing, hugging, and sharing cups and eating utensils with people who have HFMD.
4. Disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick. Teachers and their Assistants in preschools in between classes and play areas (especially in the malls) MUST spray disinfectant, like Lysol.
5. Let your kids bring a handy alcogel and disinfectant spray. Teach them to use it after school or in the playgrounds.
6. Bathing at home right away, helps prevent HFMD.
There is no vaccine to protect against HFMD.
📍You should stay home while you are sick with hand, foot, and mouth disease.
📍If you are concerned about your symptoms you should contact your health care provider.
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The information should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
