Children with weak resistance are often at risk of many diseases, one of which is hand, foot and mouth. The disease can cause dangerous complications if not treated promptly. Parents know how to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease can minimize the risk of disease for their children.
HFMD is what?
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a disease caused by acute intestinal virus of enterovirus group, transmitted through the gastrointestinal tract, commonly found in infants and young children and is capable of causing large epidemic.
The disease can be:
- Mild form: caused by Coxsackievirus A16 virus, which can go away on its own within 7-10 days without treatment. This form accounts for the prevalence rate in cases.
- Severe form: caused by Enterovirus 71 (EV71) virus, it is very dangerous if not treated in time, easily leading to death. This form of the disease also often leaves complications such as neurological problems, meningitis, encephalitis, myocarditis, acute pulmonary edema, and respiratory distress.
In our country, the disease occurs all year round and increases sharply in March - May and September - October.
How to recognize children with hand, foot and mouth
There are some typical signs of the disease that parents can easily recognize in children such as fever, sore throat, increased salivation, excessive crying, refusing to eat, and vomiting. In particular, the appearance of lesions of the oral mucosa and skin is shown by the papules 2-5mm in size in the middle with a dark gray color and an oval shape, mainly in the form of water blisters commonly found on the palms of the hands. feet, knees, buttocks.
It should be noted that children with fever but easily reduce fever are mild form. If it is difficult to reduce fever, accompanied by startles and persistent crying, the child is likely to have a serious form of the disease.
Some people often mistake hand, foot and mouth disease for chickenpox. In fact, these 2 diseases have many differences:
Chickenpox rash usually appears on the body and then spreads to the whole body, limbs, head, face with itchy very uncomfortable, while the hand, foot and mouth rash does not cause itching, appearing on the palms of the hands , elbows, knees, buttocks, burns can grow in the mouth, throat can cause mouth ulcers, making babies afraid to eat and stop eating.
Chickenpox usually occurs in the spring, while hand, foot and mouth disease is concentrated in March - May and September - October.
What to do when a child has hand, foot and mouth?
Children with mild hand, foot and mouth disease can resolve on their own within 7-10 days, but if the disease is severe, it is very dangerous. Parents need to pay attention:
Isolate children from others to avoid spreading the disease.
Note handling baby waste in a hygienic way.
Disinfect, use gloves, masks to avoid transmission of germs.
Let the child drink enough fluids, eat a variety of substances in a soft, easily digested form.
Do not give your child spicy or sour food to avoid the impact on the sores in the child's mouth.
Regularly clean children's toys, utensils, utensils and places where children come into contact to avoid infection.
Clean hands and feet before and after playing with your child.
Do not let children scratch, poke the bladder on the skin.
Do not use salt, lemon or any other anti-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory medication to relieve the itchy rash without consulting your doctor.
When a child shows signs of the disease, parents need to bring their child to the hospital to be examined and properly assessed about the condition of the disease. Based on the child's actual situation, the doctor will prescribe the most suitable treatment plan for the child.
How to prevent diseases for children?
Currently, there are no specific vaccines and treatment drugs, and measures to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease are personal hygiene, environmental sanitation to limit the spread. Adults need to pay attention:
Always keep your hands clean and wash your hands with soap and running water several times a day (both adults and children), especially before preparing food, eating or feeding a baby, before holding a baby, after going to the toilet, after changing diapers and cleaning your baby and creating this habit for your baby.
Ensure that the diet is cooked, drink cooked, and hygienic, feed the child scientifically, do not feed the child, do not let the child eat, suck their hands, and suck on food by mouth.
Do not let children share napkins, handkerchiefs, eating utensils such as cups, bowls, plates, spoons, toys ... that have not yet been disinfected.
All equipment should be clean and hygienic. Clean toys, surfaces that children come into contact with everyday such as toys, school supplies, door handles, stair handrails, tables and chairs, floors ...
If a pathogen is suspected or a pathogen is suspected, do not expose the child to the source of the infection due to contact with nasal secretions or phlegm, saliva or fluid from the infected person's acne.
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