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Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common infectious disease in children, the disease can break out into epidemics in many places with an increased number of children. So what are the symptoms of hand, foot and mouth symptoms, do children with hand, foot and mouth itch?
1. What is hand, foot and mouth disease in children?
Hand, foot and mouth disease is an infectious disease caused by an acute viral infection, a disease transmitted by the gastrointestinal tract, common in young children and very likely to break out into a large epidemic. Hand, foot and mouth disease is very contagious and often occurs in young children.
In Vietnam, the highest outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease in children is around March–May and September–December of the year. It can occur at any age, and children under the age of 3 are at higher risk. The reason is that the child's immune system is not yet fully developed, so it is more susceptible to virus attack.
Most cases of hand, foot and mouth disease in children have a mild course. There are however exceptions. If the child is not detected early, timely treatment of the disease can worsen, causing complications such as encephalitis - meningoencephalitis, acute pulmonary edema, myocarditis which can lead to death.
2. Typical hand, foot and mouth symptoms in children
Typical hand, foot and mouth symptoms in children include: Fever, lesions in the oral mucosa and skin, sore throat,.... Hand-foot-and-mouth nodules in the form of blisters often appear on the skin of the palms, soles of feet, in knees, buttocks. The progression of hand, foot and mouth disease in children can be divided into the following stages:
Incubation period: After a child is infected with the virus, there will be an incubation period in the body of 3-7 days. During this time, children often have no specific signs of illness, only fatigue, anorexia, and inactivity. Stage of disease onset: After the incubation period, the virus has multiplied in a large number in the body, so the disease will start very quickly. This phase lasts about 1-2 days with the appearance of many characteristic symptoms. Signs that are easier to spot in sick children include low-grade fever, sore throat, fatigue, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. Full-blown disease stage: This stage can last about 3 - 10 days with typical symptoms such as: children appear many hand, foot and mouth blisters in the form of red sores or vesicles, with a diameter of about 2-3 mm in children. oral mucosa, tongue. These pimples cause pain, so children tend to stop eating and breastfeeding. At the same time, the child will also frequently salivate or drool. The long or short period of full-blown disease will depend on the care and location of the child, but the recovery time will be different.
3. Do children with hand, foot and mouth itch?
Usually hand, foot and mouth disease in the first stage from 1-2 days does not cause itching, discomfort like some other skin diseases in young children. If you notice that your child has signs of itching, scratching, burning pain and discomfort, parents need to quickly take the child to the doctor, because it is likely that the sores on the child's skin are infected and causing itching.
In the early stages of a child's life, parents need to pay close attention, always observing changes in the child. If the child is found to have signs of illness and unusual signs, it is necessary to take him to the hospital for examination early for timely treatment.
When children are infected with the virus that causes hand, foot and mouth disease, they may have anorexia, diarrhea, fatigue, and dehydration. Therefore, children need special care, need to be examined early to recover from illness and return to a normal life rhythm.
4. How to prevent hand foot and mouth disease in children effectively
Hand, foot and mouth disease in children in the beginning will cause fever, headache or back pain, stiff neck. At first, due to the mild severity of the disease, the disease can go away on its own if the child is well taken care of. However, children with weakened immune systems may need to be hospitalized for a short time.
Hand, foot and mouth disease in children is not too dangerous, but if not treated properly, it will cause many serious complications such as: respiratory failure, encephalitis, even paralysis. In the case of children with encephalitis after hand, foot and mouth disease can be fatal.
Up to now, there is no specific method to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease in children. However, to best prevent illness, parents and caregivers should pay attention to apply the following measures:
Limit taking your baby to crowded places or play with many other children during an outbreak broadcast. Do not let children come into contact with sick children. Always pay attention to wash children's hands with soap after coming home from outside, before eating and after using the toilet. Regularly clean children's toys and daily utensils. Keep the house clean, there should be sunlight and ventilation, don't let the house get wet. Ensure children eat hygienically, provide adequate nutrients for children. Make sure your child is fully vaccinated and on schedule. Relatives living with the child also keep clean. Currently, the Pediatrics Department - Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to: viral fever, bacterial fever, respiratory diseases, infectious diseases infection, hand-foot-and-mouth disease,... With modern equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread. Along with that, Vinmec has a general examination in conjunction with a nutritionist to develop separate menus for children so that children can always grow up healthy in each stage.
Vinmec International General Hospital with a system of modern facilities, medical equipment and a team of experts and doctors with many years of experience in medical examination and treatment, parents can rest assured to visit examine and treat children at the Hospital.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
