The reason why hand, foot and mouth disease can happen again and again

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by resident Doctor Duong Van Sy - Neonatologist - Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital
Hand, foot and mouth disease is no longer a strange disease, it can appear at any age, but is common in young children. This is a dangerous infectious disease, if proper precautions are not taken, the disease can be re-infected many times.

1. Why can hand, foot and mouth disease be repeated many times?

Hand, foot and mouth disease is an infectious disease that can be spread 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 an infected person. Hand, foot and mouth. Without timely prevention and control measures, there is a great risk that the disease will become an epidemic. The disease is most contagious during the first 7 days after infection, but the infectious phase lasts several weeks, because the virus that causes the disease remains in the feces of an infected person.
Hand, foot and mouth disease comes from an intestinal virus infection in the body. In case the body is infected with the coxsackie virus A16 that causes hand, foot and mouth disease, the disease is usually mild, with almost no symptoms, and can go away on its own. However, if the body contracts hand, foot and mouth disease due to infection with enterovirus 71 (EV71), this case is severe, with many serious complications, even death. Each infection only produces antibodies to a certain virus, so it is possible to get sick again if infected with another virus of the enterovirus group. Therefore, children who have had hand, foot and mouth disease are at risk of re-infection.
Most cases of children with hand, foot and mouth disease are mild and can heal on their own, however, it is also necessary to be careful with a few cases of severe disease with the risk of dangerous complications such as inflammation. Myocarditis, acute meningitis, acute pulmonary edema, if not detected and treated promptly, can lead to death.

2. All people who come into contact with children with hand, foot and mouth disease are at risk of infection

The rate of intestinal virus transmission to healthy people is 17%, in relatives and direct contact with infected children is 23%. This conclusion proves that all people who have the opportunity to come into contact with children with hand, foot and mouth disease are at risk of infection and even have the ability to spread the disease to others.
There is currently no specific vaccine for the disease in Vietnam. Therefore, parents and families need to seriously take preventive measures, specifically:
Wash hands often with soap properly, especially before cooking; before eating or feeding the child; before holding the baby, after using the toilet as well as when changing diapers and cleaning the baby. Compliance with food hygiene: cooked food, boiled drink; clean utensils before use; use clean water in daily life, absolutely avoid chewing food for children, do not let children suck their thumbs, eat or suck on toys; Do not share towels or personal items that have not been disinfected. Clean the surroundings, areas or items that children come into contact with daily such as learning tools, toys, tables and chairs, floors.... with detergent or soap, then bleach. Disinfect with bleach containing diluted chlorine. Absolutely do not let children come into contact with people who are sick or are suspected of having hand, foot and mouth disease. The latrines and waste of patients should be treated in accordance with regulations on hygiene and disease prevention. If a child is found to have symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease, it is necessary to take the child to a medical facility for timely diagnosis and treatment. For pregnant women, it is necessary to minimize direct contact with sick people and fully implement measures to prevent the possibility of hand, foot and mouth disease transmission. In case of infection during pregnancy, the mother is at risk of transmitting the virus to the fetus, resulting in the baby being born with a mild intestinal virus infection, so it is necessary to be very careful.
To protect children from agents that affect their health, you need to monitor and take them to a doctor when they have abnormal symptoms.

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