How to treat mild hand, foot and mouth disease

Generally, there is a risk of contracting hand, foot and mouth disease in the spring. Parents need to observe this symptom in their children in a timely manner. If there are any symptoms of discomfort, they should go to the hospital for examination and treatment in time. Mild hand, foot and mouth disease can manifest as damage to the oral mucosa, and the baby always complains of itchy skin and keeps scratching it with his hands, causing the spread of papules on the skin surface. So, how should mild hand, foot and mouth disease be treated?

1. Treatment

1. General treatment

If there are no complications, the prognosis of this disease is generally good and most patients recover 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.

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

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

(5) 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.

(6) 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 should be given appropriate treatment.

(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.

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.

2. Prevention

1. Children should wash their hands with soap or hand sanitizer before meals, after defecation and after going out. Do not let children drink raw water or eat raw or cold food, and avoid contact with sick children.

2. Caregivers must wash their hands before contacting children, changing diapers, and handling feces, and dispose of waste properly.

3. Bottles and nipples used by infants and young children should be thoroughly cleaned before and after use.

4. During the epidemic period, it is not advisable to bring children to public places where people gather and air circulation is poor. Pay attention to maintaining a clean home environment, ventilate the room frequently, and dry clothes and quilts frequently.

5. Children should go to a medical institution promptly if they develop related symptoms. Sick children should not come into contact with other children. Parents should promptly dry or disinfect the sick children's clothes and disinfect the sick children's feces in a timely manner. Children with mild symptoms do not need to be hospitalized and should be treated and rest at home to reduce cross-infection.

6. Clean and disinfect toys, personal hygiene utensils, tableware and other items daily.

7. Child care units should conduct morning inspections every day. If any suspected sick child is found, they should be promptly sent to the hospital for treatment or have the child rest at home. Any items used by the sick child should be disinfected immediately.

8. When the number of children with the disease increases, report it to the health and education departments in a timely manner. According to the needs of epidemic control, local education and health departments may decide to take measures to close childcare institutions or primary schools.