What are the complications of hand, foot and mouth disease?

If hand, foot and mouth disease is not effectively treated, it can easily cause other complications. Patients will show symptoms such as fever or rash, and repeated attacks will affect the nervous system and cause coma and convulsions.

1. The complications of many diseases are caused by the development laws of the disease itself. Experts divide hand, foot and mouth disease into five stages or five development stages based on the clinical symptoms. The first stage is the initial stage of hand, foot and mouth disease, also called the initial rash stage. The symptoms are relatively mild and obvious. More than 90% of cases are discovered and cured during this stage. Children at this stage will show symptoms of fever and rash on the hands, feet and mouth. Sometimes rashes may also appear on the buttocks, anus and joints. Because the disease is self-healing, they can usually heal themselves in about a week by isolating and resting at home with family care. Therefore, parents do not need to panic. As long as the child's physique is relatively good, they can provide good home care and pay close attention to changes in the child's condition.

2. A small number of children may experience recurring symptoms due to their susceptible constitution, and the disease may progress rapidly and cause different complications. This situation is more common in children under 3 years old. The second stage is the period of nervous system involvement, which is manifested by nervous system infection, poor spirits, drowsiness, shaking or convulsions of the limbs, general fatigue, etc. More serious symptoms include coma, frequent convulsions and cerebral edema. Children at this time are prone to encephalitis and meningitis.

3. The third stage is called impaired cardiopulmonary function, which is manifested by respiratory system infection causing rapid and difficult breathing, changed and unstable rhythm, slightly purple lips, severe vomiting and diarrhea, etc. The fourth stage is the exhaustion stage, which is characterized by infection of the circulatory system, pale complexion, unstable blood pressure, either high or low, shallow and rapid pulse, etc. In severe cases, there may also be shock, respiratory failure, and even pulmonary hemorrhage and pulmonary food changes, leading to myocardial manifestations. The complications caused by these two stages are very serious, so you must pay close attention to your condition, as any carelessness may be life-threatening.

4. If symptoms from the second to fourth stages appear, it means the condition is serious and the patient should be sent to the hospital for treatment in time. Timely treatment can help the body recover soon, which means entering the fifth stage of recovery. But it should be noted that after the surface symptoms disappear, the virus will remain in the body for a period of time, so parents should also pay close attention to their children's condition, improve their immunity and physical strength to resist the virus, so as to avoid reinfection and sequelae after recovery.

5. Although the complications caused by hand, foot and mouth disease in children are relatively serious, if parents take preventive measures and provide home care in the early stages, the possibility of the child's condition developing to the later stages will be very small.