Is recurrent hand, foot and mouth fever serious?

Hand, foot and mouth disease is common in children under 5 years old. Its common symptoms include persistent high fever, red papules on the hands, feet and buttocks, and in severe cases, small ulcers in the mouth. Some infants with mild symptoms only develop papules on their bodies without any other symptoms. They are easier for parents to take care of and the infants will not experience major discomfort. Once hand, foot and mouth disease causes recurrent high fever, many parents become flustered and find it difficult to cope. So is recurrent hand, foot and mouth disease fever serious?

Is recurrent hand, foot and mouth fever serious?

Repeated fever of hand, foot and mouth disease is actually a normal stress response of the body. It only requires proper care and can usually be cured within a week. The prognosis is good and there will be no complications.

What to do if hand, foot and mouth have repeated fever

Here are three approaches to three types of fever:

1. Physical cooling is the first choice for intervention when the body temperature is below 38°C

Fever is the most common symptom of infectious diseases in children. The treatment of fever can be roughly divided into "physical treatment" and "drug treatment". Generally speaking, when a child's body temperature is below 38°C, there is no need to use drug treatment, but choose the correct physical cooling method. For example, applying a fever-reducing patch, drinking plenty of water, and taking a warm bath can all help lower body temperature.

2. Infants and young children with a body temperature above 38.5°C need drug treatment

If you find that your child's body temperature has exceeded 38.5℃, parents should closely observe the child's condition so as to respond in time. For infants and young children, when their body temperature exceeds 38.5℃, they need to be given medication.

3. Body temperature above 39°C

Need to take medication under the guidance of a doctor

When a child's body temperature exceeds 39°C and is considered a high fever, Western medicine treatment is usually chosen. One thing that must be made clear is that parents should use medications under the guidance of a doctor, especially paying attention to the dosage.

Treatment of hand, foot and mouth disease

1. General treatment

If there are no complications, the disease will usually heal within a week. Mainly for symptomatic treatment.

(1) First, isolate the sick child, and those in contact should be disinfected and isolated to avoid cross infection.

(2) Provide symptomatic treatment and maintain good oral care. For severe oral herpes and ulcers, gargle or apply Kangfuxin liquid to the affected area. You can also mix Smecta into a paste and apply it to the ulcer surface with a cotton swab after meals.

(3) Clothes and bedding should be clean, comfortable, soft, and changed frequently.

(4) Cut your baby’s nails short and wrap his or her hands if necessary to prevent the baby from scratching the rash.

(5) In the early stages of a rash on the hands and feet, apply calamine lotion. When herpes forms or breaks, apply 0.5% iodine tincture.

(6) For babies with rashes on their buttocks, their urine and feces should be cleaned up at all times and their buttocks should be kept clean and dry.

(7) You can take antiviral drugs and Chinese herbal medicines that clear heat and detoxify, and supplement vitamins B and C.

2. Combined treatment

(1) Closely monitor changes in the patient's condition, especially the functions of important organs such as the brain, lungs, and heart; for critically ill patients, pay special attention to monitoring blood pressure, blood gas analysis, blood sugar, and chest X-ray.

(2) Pay attention to maintaining the balance of water, electrolytes, acid and alkali, and protecting important organs.

(3) Patients with increased intracranial pressure can be given dehydration treatment such as mannitol. Severe cases can be given drugs such as methylprednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin as appropriate.

(4) Patients with signs of respiratory failure such as hypoxemia and dyspnea should receive mechanical ventilation as soon as possible.

(5) Maintain stable blood pressure and administer vasoactive drugs if necessary.

Treatment of other severe conditions: If DIC, pulmonary edema, heart failure, etc. occur, appropriate treatment should be given.

3. Antiviral drugs

Because antiviral drugs are generally best used 24 to 48 hours before onset of illness. Often when we diagnose hand, foot and mouth disease, the most effective treatment stage has passed, and the use of antiviral drugs is not recommended now.