Hand, Foot, And Mouth Disease: Spread And Clinical Features

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a very common phenomenon that’s seen in children below 5 years of age. It’s usually caused by Coxsackievirus or Enterovirus. It usually spreads by direct contact with an affected patient or infected mother. The virus causing hand, foot, and mouth disease can be found in the nose (nasal mucosa), throat secretion (saliva, sputum), leaking fluid from the blisters, and feces of the infected person.

Although the patient suffering from hand, and foot mouth disease is most contagious in the first week of illness, he/she can also be contagious after the symptoms of this disease go away.

When a child is suffering from hand, foot, and mouth disease, he/she might show a few clinical features like:

·         Presence of sores on the tongue

·         Sore throat

·         Fever

·         Loss of appetite

·         Presence of red rashes or blisters on the hand, foot, and mouth

·         Irritable behaviour or irritability in infants and toddlers

Having low-grade fever and feeling of unwellness is the most common symptom seen in a child when suffering from hand, foot, and mouth disease.