Is hand, foot and mouth disease contagious?

Many people think that hand, foot and mouth disease will not be contagious as long as they pay attention to hygiene. In fact, the spread of hand, foot and mouth disease is not due to the root cause of the disease or bacteria, but because these blisters will be transmitted to other parts after rupture. Therefore, children should try not to go out or contact other children during the period of suffering from hand, foot and mouth disease. This is to prevent infection and to prevent the child's condition from worsening.

Generally, the virus is still excreted from the respiratory tract 1-2 weeks after the onset of hand, foot and mouth disease, and the virus is excreted from the feces 3-5 weeks after the onset of the disease. Therefore, the quarantine period must be no less than 2 weeks to prevent infection.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common infectious disease caused by enterovirus. The main clinical features of this disease are herpes on the hands, feet and mouth, so it is commonly known as hand, foot and mouth disease. Most patients have mild symptoms, but a small number of patients may develop complications such as myocarditis, pulmonary edema, aseptic encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, etc. Some seriously ill children have rapid disease progression and are prone to death. It mostly occurs in infants and young children under 5 years old, so it is often called "hand, foot and mouth disease in children."

Hand, foot and mouth disease is mainly transmitted through close contact between people. Viruses in the patient's throat secretions and saliva can be transmitted through airborne droplets. The virus can be transmitted through daily contact with hands, towels, handkerchiefs, tooth cups, toys, eating utensils, milk containers, bedding, underwear, etc. contaminated with saliva, herpes fluid, and feces, and can also be transmitted orally. Contact with water contaminated by the virus can also cause oral infection, which often leads to epidemics. Cross-infection in outpatient clinics and inadequate disinfection of oral instruments can also cause transmission.

Hand, foot and mouth disease has many transmission routes, and infants and children are generally susceptible. Proper hygiene of children, families and childcare institutions is the key to preventing infection with this disease.

1. General 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 their hands if necessary to prevent them from 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 for clearing heat and detoxifying, and supplement vitamins B and C, etc.

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-rays.

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 treatment 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.