This article was written in consultation with Master Doctor Truong Thanh Tam, a pediatrician at the Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology at Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is an infectious illness caused by intestinal viruses that can lead to epidemics. Typical symptoms include blisters on the skin and mucous membranes, often accompanied by fever. If not properly cared for, hand, foot, and mouth disease in infants can pose serious risks, including death or long-term health issues.
1. Overview of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Infants and Young Children
Hand, foot, and mouth disease occurs throughout the year in tropical countries, including Vietnam. While the disease can affect individuals of any age, hand, foot, and mouth disease is most commonly seen in infants and children under the age of four. Although parents in our country are becoming more familiar with this illness, diagnostic testing remains complicated and expensive, which can lead to confusion with other conditions. Therefore, the appearance of blisters in all three locations of the hands, feet, and mouth is an important clinical sign that helps rule out other diseases. From there, the diagnosis can be determined and there will be proper treatment and care for children with hand, foot, and mouth disease.
Transmission routes of hand, foot, and mouth disease in newborns and young children include:
- Direct transmission from feces to mouth
- Indirect transmission through contaminated water, food, or dirty hands
- Respiratory droplets (in rare cases)
The initial symptoms of the disease often include mild fever, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Within 1 to 2 days, a pink rash may develop on the skin, which can progress into blisters. Lesions in the oral mucosa, including on the tongue and gums, appear as ulcers that make swallowing painful and can be mistaken for common oral ulcers (such as canker sores). Skin blisters typically form on the palms of the hands, forearms, soles of the feet, and legs. Additionally, hand, foot, and mouth disease in newborns can also develop a papular rash on the buttocks area - where the diaper is wrapped. During the acute and progressive stages, patients sometimes experience other accompanying symptoms.
2. Caring for Children with Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
Because there is currently no specific medicine to treat hand, foot, and mouth disease, to reduce the risk of skin and mucous membrane infections, parents need to pay attention to maintaining body hygiene for infected children. Specific ways to care for children with hand, foot, and mouth disease are:
- Having the child gargle with salt water daily
- Bathing the child with hand, foot, and mouth disease in warm water, washing the body gently, and avoiding breaking blisters or scratching the skin.
- Dressing the child in clean, cool clothes daily after bathing
- Keeping nails short or using mittens for young children to minimize skin damage from scratching
- Ensuring a nutritious diet tailored to the child's needs
- Provide plenty of fluids, including cooled boiled water, fresh fruit juice, broth, porridge, etc.
As for the question, "Should you bathe your baby when they have hand, foot, and mouth disease?" doctors have confirmed that avoiding bathing, wind, and light are misconceptions. Additionally, parents should refrain from popping blisters or applying traditional herbal remedies to prevent dangerous secondary skin infections.
3. Preventing Complications of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Newborns
To effectively care for children with hand, foot, and mouth disease, parents must closely monitor any changes in skin and mucous membrane damage, as well as the child's overall condition. If a child exhibits any of the following serious symptoms, it is essential to take them to the hospital immediately:
- Persistent high fever
- Severe headache
- Frequent vomiting
- Extreme drowsiness or fatigue
- Confusion or disorientation
- Convulsions
With proper treatment, children diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth disease typically recover within one week without any complications. Initially, the blisters may appear clear, and as they heal, they usually do not leave any scars. However, if not treated properly, the disease can progress to a superinfection stage, causing the blisters to fill with cloudy fluid. This progression can lead to serious complications, including:
- Sepsis
- Encephalitis and meningitis
- Myocarditis
Complications related to the brain carry a high risk of death and may result in long-term effects that can impact the child's future well-being.
Although hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by intestinal viruses, there remains no specific treatment or vaccine for infants and young children with hand, foot, and mouth disease. To help prevent the disease within the community, it's crucial to improve the living environment, ensure access to "cooked food and boiled water," and maintain personal hygiene, particularly before meals and after using the restroom. For children diagnosed with this disease, parents should provide proper care by avoiding further irritation to any open sores on the skin and bathing the child daily in warm water to limit the risk of infection.
As a leader in pediatric care, Vinmec Healthcare System has made significant investments in human resources, technology, and equipment to enhance patient satisfaction.
- Leading Pediatric Specialists: Our team comprises experienced professors, associate professors, PhDs, and masters who have trained at major hospitals nationally and internationally. They possess a deep understanding of child psychology.
- Comprehensive Services: Vinmec offers a full range of medical examination and treatment services from newborn care to pediatrics and vaccinations, adhering to international standards to support parents in caring for their children from birth to adulthood.
- Advanced Techniques: We have successfully implemented many advanced procedures to effectively treat complex pediatric conditions, including neuro-cranial surgery and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for cancer treatment.
- Professional Care: We prioritize understanding children's psychology, creating a playful and comfortable hospital environment to help children cooperate during treatment, and improving the overall efficiency of medical care.
If you notice any unusual symptoms in your child, please seek evaluation and consultation from a specialist
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