Is hand, foot and mouth disease contagious? Which way?

This is an automatically translated article.


Is hand, foot and mouth contagious or dangerous is the question of many people. Hand, foot and mouth disease caused by Coxsackievirus A16, Coxsackievirus B, Enterovirus (E71, E68). These viruses usually live in the gastrointestinal tract and are spread from person to person through casual contact.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is an infectious disease that can be transmitted from person to person through direct contact with saliva, mucus in the nose and throat, fluid from blisters or feces of an infected person, using personal items shared with other people. hand foot mouth. Without timely prevention and control measures, there is a great risk that the disease will become an epidemic. Hand, foot and mouth disease has the greatest risk of transmission in the first 7 days after infection, but the infectious phase lasts for several weeks, because the virus that causes the disease remains in the feces of an infected person.
With the question "Is hand, foot and mouth disease contagious?", specialists said that the disease is mainly transmitted through the respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract. Disease-causing viruses exist in saliva, sneeze, runny nose, feces, blister fluid on the skin, mucous membranes... The pathogenesis of these virus strains causes the body to increase secretion of secretions when infected. sick. Children sneezing, runny nose, sucking on toys together are convenient ways of hand-foot-mouth transmission. When released, the virus can still survive for a long time in a room temperature environment, clinging to utensils, toys, floors, cups, towels, and clothes. If a healthy child is exposed to this environment, it is very easy to get infected.
However, hand, foot and mouth disease doesn't just affect children. There are still reports of adults getting hand, foot and mouth disease from infected children while caring for and cleaning children.
In the incubation period, about 3-7 days, hand, foot and mouth disease in young children has no signs of recognition, the disease stage, manifests mainly on the palms, soles and in the mouth, mucous membranes tongue, cheeks, and throat of the patient.
Hand, foot and mouth disease currently does not have a vaccine to prevent disease, young children and adults caring for infected children can only properly prevent hand, foot and mouth infection. It can be said that hand, foot and mouth disease is a common infectious disease in children. The risk of epidemic is very high if not recognized early and actively controlled. Building the habit of keeping personal hygiene and the surrounding environment is an effective measure to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease in general, and other infectious diseases in particular.

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.

Share
Patients Stories