Hand-Foot-And-Mouth Disease is a Common Childhood Illness

Have you ever heard of hand-foot-and-mouth disease? If you have children, you should have. It is a common childhood illness.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease first shows itself with a fever. Tiredness or a sore throat can be early signs as well. Sores on the hands and feet, and in the mouth, then appear. The sores can sometimes appear on the legs or buttocks. This condition usually runs its course and goes away in about a week.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a viral infection caused by an enterovirus. Unfortunately it is very contagious. It can be easily spread through sneezing or coughing. One can even get it from changing a baby's diaper. Therefore, it is recommended you wash your hands often when you are caring for a child that has hand-foot-and-mouth disease.

Children are most contagious during the first week. Even months after the infection, the virus can stay in the stool and spread. Once the blisters and sores are gone, it is no guarantee the virus is gone.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease should not be confused with hoof-and-mouth disease, foot-and-mouth disease, or mad cow disease. Despite the similar names, hand-foot-and-mouth disease is very different and is the only one that really affects humans. The other diseases primarily affect cattle and other livestock.

Hand-foot-and-mouth is not seasonal although it is more common in the summer and fall seasons.

Home remedies are usually sufficient in treating Hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Acidic and spicy food and beverages should be avoided. This can aggravate the already painful mouth sores. Plenty of cool fluids, popsicles and even ice cream can help a child feel better.

To reduce fever use ibuprofen or acetaminophen. It is recommended that children not be given aspirin because it is linked to Reye's syndrome.

Because hand-foot-and-mouth disease is so contagious, wear gloves when changing your child's diaper or when applying a lotion or cream to your child. Don't let your child share toys during the infected period either.

It is also important to encourage your family members to wash their hands often, especially since the virus can live for several months.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is usually not at all serious. Almost all patients recover without any medical treatments. Aseptic or viral meningitis is a rare complication marked by fever, stiff neck, headache or back pain. Encephalitis, a fatal condition, is another very rare complication.

If a pregnant woman contracts hand-foot-and-mouth disease shortly before delivery, they may pass it on to their child. However, there is no conclusive evidence that being exposed to this disease causes serious birth defects.

Sources:
http://children.webmd.com
http://www.cdc.gov