Hand, foot and mouth disease rash characteristics

We know that the symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease are very obvious, generally manifested as skin papules, which are very prominent. As long as parents observe carefully, they can judge the symptoms during the baby's illness and go to the hospital for diagnosis and examination. If parents cannot correctly understand the symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease, their children will not be able to continue receiving treatment. So, what are the characteristics of hand, foot and mouth disease rash?

1. Common symptoms

Acute onset, fever, mouth pain, anorexia, scattered blisters or ulcers on the oral mucosa, mostly located on the tongue, buccal mucosa and hard forehead, and may also affect the soft palate, gums, tonsils and pharynx. Maculopapular rashes appear on the hands, feet, buttocks, arms, and legs, and later turn into herpes. There may be inflammatory red halos around the herpes, and there is less fluid in the blisters. There are more of them on the hands and feet, and on the back of the palms. The number of rashes ranges from a few to dozens. It fades away without leaving any traces or pigmentation. Some cases only present as rash or herpangina. Most patients recover within a week and the prognosis is good. In some cases, the rash may be atypical, such as appearing in a single area or only as maculopapular rash.

2. Symptoms of severe cases

In a few cases (especially those under 3 years old), the disease progresses rapidly, with meningitis, encephalitis (brainstem encephalitis is the most dangerous), encephalomyelitis, pulmonary edema, circulatory disorders, etc. occurring within 1 to 5 days of onset. In very rare cases, the condition is critical and can lead to death, and survivors may have sequelae.

(1) Neurological manifestations when concurrent central nervous system diseases occur: poor spirits, drowsiness, irritability, headache, vomiting, delirium or even coma; limb tremors, myoclonus, nystagmus, ataxia, eye movement disorders; weakness or acute flaccid paralysis; convulsions. Physical examination revealed signs of meningeal irritation, weakened or absent tendon reflexes, and a positive Babinski sign. Central nervous system symptoms are more common in children under 2 years old.

(2) Respiratory system manifestations of pulmonary edema: shallow breathing, difficulty breathing or change in rhythm, cyanosis of the lips, cough, coughing up white, pink or bloody foamy sputum; moist rales or sputum sounds can be heard in the lungs.

(3) Circulatory system manifestations of concurrent myocarditis: pale complexion, skin patterns, cold limbs, cyanosis of fingers and toes, cold sweats, and prolonged capillary refill time. The heart rate increases or decreases, the pulse becomes shallow or weak or even disappears; the blood pressure increases or decreases.